Raymond Berry, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and Baltimore Colts legend, died on May 25, 2026, at age 93 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, surrounded by family [1, 2].
Berry spent his entire 13-year NFL playing career with the Baltimore Colts from 1955 to 1967 [1, 2]. He caught 631 passes during that span. Sources differ slightly on his career totals. One records 9,275 receiving yards and 68 touchdowns, while another lists 9,725 yards and 70 touchdowns [1, 2].
He was selected to six Pro Bowls and made three All-Pro teams. Berry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first-ballot choice in 1973 [1, 2].
Berry was best known as a favored target of quarterback Johnny Unitas during an era when passing was less common. His finest moment came in the 1958 NFL Championship Game, dubbed "The Greatest Game Ever Played," where he caught 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown to help the Colts defeat the New York Giants in overtime [1, 2].
Later, Berry served as head coach of the New England Patriots from mid-1984 through the 1989 season. He led the Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance in 1985 [1].
Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said, "People said Raymond Berry was not blessed with the size or speed of other receivers in the National Football League, but no one worked harder to refine his skills and master his craft... Together they helped the Colts win consecutive titles in the late 1950s, including the classic 1958 NFL Championship Game that served as a springboard for professional football becoming this country’s most popular sport." [2]
Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon added, "In NFL history, there are only a handful of players who we can say truly changed the sport. Raymond Berry is one of the few names on that list... He set records, was selected to multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and retired as the NFL's all-time leader in receiving yards and receptions." [2]
His death marks the passing of a key figure in NFL history, known for skill, toughness and dedication.
