Raymond Berry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Raymond Berry

Berry on a 1961 trading card
No. 82
Position:	Split end
Personal information
Born:	(1933-02-27) February 27, 1933 (age 92) Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	187 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school:	Paris (Paris, Texas)
College:	Shreiner (1950) SMU (1951–1954)
NFL Draft:	1954 / Round: 20 / Pick: 232
Career history
As player:
Baltimore Colts (1955)
As coach:
Dallas Cowboys (1968) Wide receivers coach Arkansas (1970–1972) Wide receivers coach Detroit Lions (1973) Wide receivers Cleveland Browns (1976) Wide receivers New England Patriots (1978) Wide receivers New England Patriots (1984) Head coach Detroit Lions (1991) Quarterbacks coach Denver Broncos (1992) Quarterbacks coach
Career highlights and awards
As a player 2× NFL champion (1958, 1959) 3× First-team All-Pro (1958–1960) 3× Second-team All-Pro (1957, 1961, 1965) 6× Pro Bowl (1958–1961, 1963, 1964) 3× NFL receiving yards leader (1957, 1959, 1960) 3× NFL receptions leader (1958–1960) 2× NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1958, 1959) NFL 1950s All-Decade Team NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor Indianapolis Colts No. 82 retired Second-team All-SWC (1954) SMU Mustangs Jersey No. 87 honored As a coach New England Patriots All-1980s Team
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 631 Receiving yards: 9,275 Receiving touchdowns: 68
Head coaching record
Regular season:	48–39 (.552)
Postseason:	3–2 (.600)
Career:	51–41 (.554)
Player stats at PFR
Coaching stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Raymond Emmett Berry Jr. (born February 27, 1933) is a famous American football player and coach. He played as a split end for the Baltimore Colts from 1955 to 1967. Later, he became the head coach for the New England Patriots from 1984 to 1989.

During his time with the Colts, Berry was a top player. He led the National Football League (NFL) in catches and receiving yards three times. He also led in receiving touchdowns twice. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl six times. The Colts won two NFL championships with him. One of these was the 1958 NFL Championship Game, often called "The Greatest Game Ever Played." In that game, Berry made 12 catches for 178 yards and scored a touchdown. When he retired, he held the NFL records for most career catches and receiving yards.

Even though he didn't catch many passes in high school or college, Berry was picked late in the 1954 NFL draft. Many thought he wouldn't make the team. But he worked incredibly hard and became a Pro Football Hall of Fame player. He was known for running his routes perfectly and almost never dropping a pass. He was a favorite target for quarterback Johnny Unitas. They were one of the best passing duos of their time.

After playing, Berry coached wide receivers for several teams. He became the Patriots' head coach in 1984. He led them to Super Bowl XX in 1985, but they lost to the Chicago Bears. In 1973, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is also on the NFL's 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams. His jersey number 82 is retired by the Indianapolis Colts.

Early Life and College Years

Raymond Emmett Berry Jr. was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on February 27, 1933. He grew up mostly in Paris, Texas. In high school and college, Berry didn't catch many passes. He didn't even start on his high school team until his last year, even though his dad was the coach.

After high school, Berry played one year of junior college football at Shreiner Institute in 1950. He then moved to Southern Methodist University (SMU). In three seasons at SMU, he caught only 33 passes in total. This was partly because colleges back then focused more on running the ball. Berry said, "I didn't catch many passes because not many were thrown." He also played outside linebacker and defensive end for SMU.

Becoming an NFL Star

The Baltimore Colts picked Berry in the 20th round of the 1954 NFL draft. He was not expected to make the team. As a rookie, he caught only 13 passes. But in his second year, he became a regular starter when the Colts got quarterback Johnny Unitas. For the next 12 seasons, they became one of the best passing teams in NFL history. Berry played in every game until his eighth year. He led the NFL in catches and receiving yards three times. He also led in receiving touchdowns twice.

In 1957, Berry caught 47 passes for 800 yards. He led the NFL in receiving yards that year. In one game against the Washington Redskins, he caught 12 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. He was named a first-team All-Pro player. The next year, he led the league with 56 catches and nine touchdowns. He was invited to his first Pro Bowl.

The Greatest Game Ever Played

One of Berry's most famous games was the 1958 NFL Championship Game. This game is known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." Berry helped the Colts win their first championship. He made a record 12 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown. The Colts beat the New York Giants 23–17. At the end of the game, he caught three passes for 62 yards. This helped the Colts tie the game with a field goal. In overtime, he had two more key catches that led to the winning score. His 12 catches were an NFL championship game record for over 50 years.

Leading the League

In 1959, Berry led the NFL in catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. He was only the fourth player to achieve this "triple crown" in receiving. His 14 receiving touchdowns set a Colts team record that lasted over 40 years. He went to his second Pro Bowl. The Colts won their second straight championship against the Giants, 31–16.

In 1960, Berry had his only 1,000-yard season. He caught 74 passes for a career-high 1,298 yards. He led the NFL in both categories by a lot. He had six straight games with over 100 yards receiving. He was again invited to the Pro Bowl and was named a first-team All-Pro.

Retirement as a Record Holder

After 1960, Berry's statistics weren't as high, but he remained a reliable target for Unitas. In 1961, he had 75 catches, which was second-most in the league. He played in the Pro Bowl again in 1963 and 1964. The Colts made it to the championship game in 1964, but lost to the Cleveland Browns.

After the 1966 season, Berry missed half of the 1967 season due to injuries. He retired shortly after. He finished his playing career with 631 catches for 9,275 yards and 68 touchdowns. At the time, he held the NFL records for career catches and receiving yards.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season

Postseason

Coaching in the NFL

After retiring as a player, Berry became a coach. He started as a receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 1968. He also coached for the University of Arkansas, Detroit Lions, and Cleveland Browns. In 1978, he joined the New England Patriots as a receivers coach.

In 1984, the Patriots hired Berry as their head coach. He took over mid-season and helped the team win four of their last eight games. Players quickly respected him. Running back Tony Collins said Berry "earned more respect in one day than Ron Meyer earned in three years."

Leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl

In the 1985 season, the Patriots had a great year, finishing 11–5. They made the playoffs as a wild card team. They became the first NFL team to reach the Super Bowl by winning three playoff games on the road. They beat the New York Jets, Los Angeles Raiders, and Miami Dolphins. It was a big win against the Dolphins, as the Patriots hadn't beaten them in Miami since 1966.

However, the Patriots faced the powerful Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX. They were big underdogs and lost 46–10. It was one of the most one-sided Super Bowl defeats at the time. Berry admitted, "We couldn't protect the quarterback, and that was my fault."

The next season, Berry's Patriots again had an 11–5 record and made the playoffs. But they lost in the first round. This was Berry's last playoff appearance as a coach for New England. He coached the Patriots until 1989. His regular-season coaching record was 48 wins and 39 losses.

After leaving the Patriots, Berry coached quarterbacks for the Detroit Lions in 1991 and the Denver Broncos in 1992.

Coaching Record

How Raymond Berry Succeeded

Berry was famous for overcoming physical challenges during his career. He was thin and often got injured. People even joked about his appearance. It was rumored that one of his legs was shorter than the other. Berry explained that this was due to temporary back issues, not a permanent condition. He wore a back brace for 13 years in the NFL to help with this.

He also had poor eyesight and wore contact lenses when he played. He tried many different lenses to find ones that worked best, even tinted ones for sunny days.

Berry was known for his incredible attention to detail and preparation. This helped him succeed despite not being the fastest wide receiver. He was slow for a wide receiver, running the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds. Instead of speed, he was known for his precise pass patterns and sure hands. He rarely dropped passes and only fumbled once in his entire career. He would squeeze Silly Putty to make his hands stronger.

He and quarterback Johnny Unitas practiced together often after regular practice. They developed amazing timing. Berry said they had to "start all over on our timing" every season. He also had 88 different moves to get open, and he practiced every single one each week.

Berry was a quiet and reserved person. He didn't like to draw attention to himself. He was described as "polite as a deacon, as quiet as a monk." Both as a player and coach, he was serious and organized.

Awards and Honors

In 1973, Raymond Berry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He is a member of the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team (selected in 2019) and the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team (compiled in 1994). He is also on the National Football League 1950s All-Decade Team.

In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him 40th on their list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. In 2021, The Athletic named him the 63rd greatest player ever. The Colts have retired his number 82 jersey. He is also part of the Patriots' 1980s All-Decade Team as a coach. He is honored in the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor.

Off the Field

Berry is a born again Christian and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He says his faith is a "huge part" of his life. As of 2009, he lives with his wife in Tennessee.

On February 5, 2012, at Super Bowl XLVI, Berry had the honor of carrying the Vince Lombardi Trophy to midfield. He presented it to the New York Giants, who had just beaten the New England Patriots. He was chosen for this honor because the game was played at Lucas Oil Stadium. This is the home stadium of his former team, the Colts, who had moved to Indianapolis in 1984.

Images for kids

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  Berry in 1960