Colts legend Raymond Berry, Hall of Fame wide receiver, dead at 93
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Raymond Berry, the Hall of Fame wide receiver who helped change the position in the NFL, died last week, according to his family. He was 93 years old.
The Baltimore Colts legend’s family said he died May 25 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The cause of death was not disclosed.
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Baltimore Colts player Raymond Berry runs with the football against the Los Angeles Rams at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, in a file photo. (David Boss/USA TODAY Sports)
“People said Raymond Berry wasn’t blessed with the size or speed of other receivers in the National Football League, but no one worked harder to improve his skills and master his craft,” Pro Football Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter said in a statement. “The chemistry he developed with quarterback Johnny Unitas through hours of route running and thousands of reps in practice has created a dynamic tandem that thinks with one mind on game days.
“Together they helped the Colts win consecutive championships in the late 1950s, including the classic 1958 NFL Championship Game, which served as a springboard for professional football to become this country’s most popular sport.”
The Colts selected Berry in the 20th round of the 1954 NFL Draft. He played at Schreiner College and SMU before turning pro.
David Driscoll (9), of Baltimore, playing for the Baltimore Colts, gets an autograph from Raymond Berry on his helmet at Colts’ training camp on August 2, 1965. (William A. Smith/AP)
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He spent his entire 13-year NFL career in Baltimore. He recorded 631 catches for 9,725 yards and 70 touchdowns. The six-time Pro Bowler was a three-time All-Pro and helped lead the Colts to two NFL Championships before the league’s eventual merger with the American Football League.
“We extend our condolences to the family of Colts legend Raymond Berry, who passed away last week,” Colts owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in a statement. “There are only a handful of players in NFL history who we can truly say changed the sport. Raymond Berry is one of the few names on that list.
Baltimore Colts quarterback Raymond Berry gained 5 yards by catching a pass from quarterback John Unitas against the Detroit Lions in Baltimore on September 30, 1962. Lions’ Dick LeBeau makes the tackle. (AP Photo)
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“As a player in a historic era of Colts football, Raymond redefined the standard for what a wide receiver could and should be. He set records, was named to multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards and receptions. One of his most memorable moments came when he had a career day on the field in ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’ during the 1958 NFL Championship.”
