The Raymond Berry story is one of determination, dedication and desire. Berry, who needed to wear special shoes because one leg was shorter than the other, didn’t become a starter on his high school football team until his senior year – even though his father was the coach.

As an end for Southern Methodist, he caught all of 33 passes in three seasons. Why the Baltimore Colts selected him, even as a “future choice” on the 20th round of the 1954 draft, is a mystery. A long shot to make the Colts, Berry was determined. He practiced and practiced, catching passes from anyone willing to throw to him. He concentrated on making the difficult catch and running perfect patterns.

Although he had just average speed, he developed, by his own count, 88 different moves to get open. He ran patterns within inches of how they were diagramed. In 1956, Johnny Unitas became the Colts’ quarterback and Raymond was ready to put all his hours of practice to use. Together the two gave the Baltimore Colts one of the greatest pass-catch teams of all time. Three straight times Raymond led the league in receptions and caught a then-record 631 passes for 9,275 yards and 68 touchdowns in his 13-year career.

A first- or second-team All-Pro choice in 1957 through 1961 and again in 1965, he was selected to play in six Pro Bowl games during his career. A sure-handed receiver, Raymond fumbled only once in 13 years. Perhaps his greatest moment came in the famous overtime 1958 NFL Championship Game. He set a then-record with 12 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown. Several of his grabs came in the Colts’ life-or-death, last minute drive to the tying touchdown. In the overtime period, two receptions good for 33 yards were the major gains in Baltimore’s drive for the winning score.

Raymond Berry Pro Football Highlights

Led the NFL in yardage three times.

Led the NFL in receptions three times.

Led the NFL in TD receptions twice.

Became all-time leading receiver in his 10th season.

In 1973 Berry was elected in his first year of eligibility to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

In 1994 the NFL celebrated its first 75 years by naming the NFL All Time Team.  The four receivers selected were: Don Hutson, Raymond Berry, Lance Alworth and Jerry Rice.

Raymond Berry was a member of two world championship teams with the Baltimore Colts.

Raymond Berry selected to 6 Pro Bowls.

After his playing career Raymond Berry coached for 22 years, 6 years as a Head Coach.

 

In 1985 Raymond Berry took New England to their first Super Bowl, and was voted

Coach of the Year by the Vince Lombardi Committee.

Along with Mike Ditka and Forrest Gregg, Berry became one of only 3 to be selected to the

75th Anniversary team, as a player and later coach his team to the Super Bowl.

Raymond Berry Football Timeline

Raymond Berry

No. 82     

Wide Receiver

Personal information

Date of birth: February 27, 1933 (age 77)

Place of birth: Corpus Christi, Texas

Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Weight: 187 lb (85 kg)

Career information

College: Southern Methodist

NFL Draft: 1954 / Round: 20 / Pick: 232

Debuted in 1955 for the Baltimore Colts

Last played in 1967 for the Baltimore Colts

HIGH SCHOOL

1946-1950 Paris, Texas

Play end on His High School Football team and called the plays.   His dad, Raymond Sr. was the Head coach.  They went undefeated that season and won the district championship.  Raymond still revisits with his High School teammates from time to time.

COLLEGE

1951 Redshirt Freshman at SMU 

1952 sophomore played only 50 minutes (needed 60 to letter)

1953 Junior season at SMU played both ways emphasis in College was changed to T formation   and running.  Berry enjoyed Defense more then offense then.

1954 Senior year at SMU.  Fumbling versus Texas haunts Berry.  Berry goes on to fumble only 1 time in his entire 13 year NFL career.

NFL

1955 Berry’s rookie year in the NFL.  In 1955 the Colts QB was George Shaw.  Johnny Unitas was cut by Pittsburgh.  Berry only played 13 plays that season and was slated to be released.1955 Stats  - G 12 Rec. 13 Yds. 205 Avg. 15.8 Td 0

1956 Unitas was in camp for one week with the rookies and thats when Berry and Unitas started practicing together.  Berry was working after practice and Colts Head Coach Weeb Ewbank said keep working with Unitas, work with Unitas.  4-5 games into the season Shaw hurts his knee and is out for season (versus the Bears).  In comes Unitas.  Raymond Berry scores first TD in a game vs. Green Bay that year.

1956 Stats - G 12 Rec. 37 Yds. 601 Avg. 16.2 Td 2

1957 Berry is an established receiver BUT he only catches 1 catch for two yards in the Colts first 3 games!  According to Berry, he then got insomnia.  But when the season ends he leads the NFL in yards and he is second in catches.  Versus Washington he goes for 12 receptions for 224 yards and 2TDs.

1957 Stats - G 12 Rec. 1300 Yds. 205 Avg. 15.8 Td 0

1958 Championship Season Bob Shaw come on board as an assistant coach, inside outside release taught (but Berry gets it later).  Colts win in what is now referred to as the Greatest Game Ever Played versus the Giants at Yankee Stadium.  Bob Shaw leaves the team for a job with San Francisco 49ers.

1959 14 TDs most in his carrier.  31-14 win versus the Giants for the world title. Also Abe Woodson introduced first bump coverage. He used inside position, Berry and Unitas used the deep ball to defeat it.

1960 The Q Pattern is born (3.5 sec pass protection) Berry convinced Coach Weeb to throw deep.  There was a  3 year window for going deep. The pass rush after  then was to fierce with the likes of  Henry Jordon Willy Davis Pakers, Rams Merlin Olson Deakon Jones.  This was Berry’s best year BUT WITH NO BOB SHAW, he over worked and broke down his body (hamstring).  The last 4 games Berry played with a bad hamstring then tore the cartilage in his knee.  In spite of all this, he led NFL in yards with 1,298.

1961 Berry entered camp with the same knee problem and was out 8 weeks.  He was back after game 3, and had 75 catches, many short routes quick outs (Berry could not practice). He was a Pro Bowler in spite of everything.  Unitas also hurt his throwing hand that year. 

1962 The Colts brought in RC Owens from 49ers to backup Berry.  Berry was then benched for RC.  Berry gets serious about Bob Shaw’s inside/outside approach (which are available in Berry’s Receiving Fundamentals DVD).  Then, RC gets injured v Rams  Berry goes in, tells Jon what to call, they hit several passes using inside/outside technique.  RC never gets back in.  Head Coach Weeb Ubanks is fired that year. (Rossenbloom later says it’s the biggest mistake he ever made).  A somewhat forgettable year. 

1963 Don Shula is hired as head coach.  This was a good year for Berry BUT he suffered a dislocated shoulder in week eight.  Some of the highlights were connecting on a long ball versus the great Dick LeBeau (Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive coordinator).  Shula understood the Unitas to Berry connection.

1964  Head Coach Don Shula’s 2nd year.  Berry made the Pro Bowl and had 8 TDs.  The Championship game was versus the Cleveland Browns that year.  The Browns had Jim Brown at running back and a few plays.  The Colts had too many plays from Shula.  The Browns won big.

1965 Berry has another good year.  Gets hit in thigh working out in shorts (collision with LB Mike Curtis).  Out 2-3 weeks.

1966 Berry had another productive year, in his 12th season, he scored 7 TDs and was in the top ten in receiving.  The Green Bay Packers were stronger overall that year.

1967 Berry’s body was feeling it from 12 years in the NFL (knee, thigh).  His knee was drained and he played most of the year but he was not getting open (but the Colts had a good team).  Carrol Rosenbloom, owner came to him and talked about coming back and being a limited player but Berry refused.

Career Highlights and Awards

1. 1.1.■6× Pro Bowl selection (1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964)
   
   
   

2. 2.2.■6× All-Pro selection (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965)
   
   
   

3. 3.3.■NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
   
   
   

4. 4.4.■NFL 1950s All-Decade Team
   
   
   

5. 5.5.■Baltimore Colts #82 retired
   
   
   

Career NFL Statistics

Receptions  631

Receiving Yards  9,275

Touchdowns  68

Stats at NFL.com

Pro Football Hall of Fame

As coach:

1. 1.1.■Dallas Cowboys (WR) (1968-1969)
   
   
   

2. 2.2.■New England Patriots Head Coach (1984-1989)  ** First NFL team to win all road playoff games and first Superbowl appearance for the New England Patriots.
   
   
   

3. 3.3.■Detroit Lions (QB) (1991-1992)
   
   
   

4. 4.4.■Denver Broncos (QB) (1992)