Hall of Fame receiver and former Patriots coach Raymond Berry dies aged 93
Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Raymond Berry, who won two NFL championships with the Baltimore Colts before guiding the New England Patriots to a Super Bowl as head coach, has died aged 93.
A statement released by his family through the Hall of Fame confirmed he passed away on 25 May while surrounded by loved ones.
The legendary split end spent his entire 13-season playing career in Baltimore, becoming one of the most reliable targets in professional football history.
He established a lethal connection with quarterback Johnny Unitas during an era when the sport heavily favoured running the ball.
The Greatest Game Ever Played
The former SMU draft pick is perhaps best remembered for his heroics in the 1958 NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants.
Often credited with sparking the league’s modern popularity, the sudden-death thriller saw him catch 12 passes for 178 yards and a crucial touchdown.
That single-game championship receptions record stood until 2014, underlining the magnitude of his performance in the 23-17 victory.
He secured his second consecutive championship the following season with the Colts.
During that dominant 1959 campaign, the prolific pass-catcher led the league outright in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
A model of consistency
Selected as a 20th-round draft pick in 1954, the six-time Pro Bowler vastly exceeded early career expectations.
He retired in 1967 as the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions, amassing 631 catches for 9,275 yards and 68 touchdowns.
In a remarkable testament to his sure-handedness, Unitas’ favourite target fumbled just once during his entire professional career.
“Luck is something which happens when preparation meets opportunity,” he once explained.
“One play may make the difference in winning or losing a game. I must be prepared to make my own luck.”
His number 82 jersey was later retired by the Colts, and he was inducted into the Baltimore Ravens’ Ring of Honor.
Super Bowl run in New England
Transitioning to the touchline, the football icon spent 14 seasons as an assistant coach before taking the top job at the New England Patriots in 1984.
He orchestrated a memorable run the following year, guiding a wild-card squad all the way to Super Bowl XX.
Although his side suffered a heavy defeat to the historic Chicago Bears, his tenure in Foxborough remained highly respected.
He compiled a 48-39 overall record as a head coach, eventually departing the franchise after the 1989 season.
“It was a great six years for me,” he told ESPN in 2008. “I had some really great players, and you really enjoy coaching talent like that.”
“And I still have New England fans to this day come up and talk about how much they enjoyed those years. Nice to have satisfied customers.”