Raymond Berry Dies at 93, Leaving 631-Catch Colts and Patriots Legacy
Updated
Updated · Boston Herald · Jun 1
Raymond Berry Dies at 93, Leaving 631-Catch Colts and Patriots Legacy
14 articles · Updated · Boston Herald · Jun 1
May 25 marked the death of Raymond Berry, the Hall of Fame receiver and former Patriots head coach, who died peacefully at home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, at 93.
Berry rose from a 20th-round pick in 1954 to become Johnny Unitas’ trusted target, setting a then-NFL record with 631 catches over 13 seasons and helping the Colts win titles in 1958 and 1959.
The 1958 championship cemented his place in league lore: Berry caught 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown in the overtime win over the Giants known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”
New England later hired him as head coach, and he went 48-39 from 1984 to 1989, leading the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance in the 1985 season before a 46-10 loss to Chicago.
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973, Berry was also remembered for relentless preparation and for pushing the Patriots toward drug testing after players’ substance problems surfaced.
Could Raymond Berry have become a Hall of Famer without his legendary quarterback, Johnny Unitas, by his side?
How did a player with poor eyesight and uneven legs outsmart an entire league to become a football legend?
Why did some teammates disagree that the iconic 1958 championship was truly the 'Greatest Game Ever Played'?