One of the most influential wide receivers in NFL history has died.
Raymond Berry, who was the primary target for much of legendary quarterback Johnny Unitas’ career with the Baltimore Colts, passed away on May 25 at the age of 93. The Pro Football Hall of Fame made the announcement on Monday, June 1, on behalf of Berry’s family. No cause of death was revealed, though, per the Hall, he “died peacefully at home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, surrounded by family members, including his wife of 65 years, Sally.”
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Inducted into Canton in 1973, Berry had the distinction of being the Hall of Famer who had been enshrined the longest at the time of his death.
“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 and thousands of repetitions in practice created a dynamic tandem that thought with one mind on game days,” Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said in a statement.
“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.”
As Porter notes, Unitas and Berry helped usher in the era of the modern passing game in the NFL − Berry famously running exacting routes, and Unitas hitting him in stride or releasing to a spot on the field before Berry seemed open. Berry also perfected boundary catches, falling out of bounds with only his feet (or toes) inside the sideline, a skill commonly practiced and refined by the modern wideout. Unremarkable physically, Berry estimated he had 88 different routes in his bag of tricks to get him open.
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A 20th-round draft pick of the Colts in 1954, Berry caught 631 passes for 9,275 yards and 68 TDs − outrageous numbers at the time − over the course of 13 seasons. He led the NFL in receptions in three different seasons and in receiving yards three times. He was the league’s all-time leader in catches and receiving yards at the time of his retirement following the 1967 season.
However his most notable performance occurred in the 1958 NFL championship game − eight years before the Super Bowl came into existence but often referred to as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” In front of a national television audience in a matchup that helped launch the NFL’s popularity into the stratosphere, Berry and Unitas hooked up 12 times for 178 yards and one touchdown in a game the Colts eventually won 23-17 in overtime against the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium.
Unknown Date; Los Angeles, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Baltimore Colts receiver (82) RAYMOND BERRY in action against the Los Angeles Rams at Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Photo By David Boss-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright David Boss
Berry went on to coach the New England Patriots from 1984 to ’89, finishing with a 51-41 record. He led the Pats to their first conference championship to cap the 1985 season, but New England lost Super Bowl 20 46-10 to the famed ’85 Chicago Bears.
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“Raymond Berry holds a special place in Patriots history,” said team owner Robert Kraft in a statement.
“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 is survived by three children and nine grandchildren.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Raymond Berry, Colts legend and former Patriots coach, dies at 93
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