Raymond Berry, the legendary Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver who starred for the Baltimore Colts and later guided the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl, has passed away at age 93.
Berry died on May 25 in Murfreesboro, Tenn., with family members by his side, according to a statement his relatives issued Monday through the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
During his 13-season career with the Colts spanning 1955-67, Berry earned six Pro Bowl selections and three first-team All-Pro honors, capturing NFL titles in 1958 and 1959 while playing alongside quarterback and fellow Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas.
Berry entered the Hall of Fame in Canton as part of the 1973 class in his initial year of eligibility, after leading the league in receiving yards on three occasions and touchdown receptions twice. His career statistics included 631 catches for 9,275 yards and 68 touchdowns across 154 regular-season contests (139 as a starter). The Colts retired his No. 82 jersey and the Baltimore Ravens placed him in their Ring of Honor.
“People said Raymond Berry was not blessed with the size or speed of other receivers in the National Football League, but no one worked harder to refine his skills and master his craft. The chemistry he developed with quarterback Johnny Unitas through hours of route-running thousands of repetitions in practice created a dynamic tandem that thought with one mind on game days,” Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter said. “Together they helped the Colts win consecutive titles in the late 1950s, including the classic 1958 NFL Championship Game that served as a springboard for professional football becoming this country’s most popular sport.
“On top of that, there was no finer gentleman — a person who remained humble and grounded when others sought to thrust stardom upon him.”
Berry delivered a memorable performance in “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” the 1958 NFL championship contest where his Colts beat the New York Giants 23-17 at Yankee Stadium. He hauled in 12 receptions for 178 yards and one touchdown.
Transitioning to coaching, Berry served as an assistant in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys (1968-69), Detroit Lions (1973-75), Cleveland Browns (1976-77) and Patriots (1978-81), plus at the college level with Arkansas (1970-72).
Berry took over as Patriots head coach during the middle of the 1984 campaign, posting a 48-39 record through 1989. In 1985, he led New England from a wild-card position to an AFC title and a spot in Super Bowl XX against the powerful Chicago Bears, who won 46-10. The Patriots captured the AFC East crown the next season but fell in the divisional playoff round.
“Raymond Berry holds a special place in Patriots history,” said Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “He led our franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance following a remarkable playoff run, a milestone that was the greatest achievement in team history at the time. I was fortunate to get to know Raymond over the years, and one of my fondest memories was spending time with him and his son, Mark, during a trip to Israel in 2015 with several fellow Pro Football Hall of Famers. He was every bit the gentleman people knew him to be; humble, faithful, kind and deeply respected by all who knew him.
“The entire Patriots family joins me in mourning Raymond’s passing and celebrating a life that left a lasting impact on our franchise and the National Football League. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Berry family and all who mourn his loss.”
Berry continued his coaching career as a quarterbacks coach with the Lions (1991) and Denver Broncos (1992).
