Raymond Berry
Paris (Paris, Texas) | |||||||||
College: | Shreiner (1951) SMU (1952–1954) | ||||||||
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NFL draft: | 1954 / Round: 20 / Pick: 232 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
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As a coach: | |||||||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Head coaching record | |||||||||
Regular season: | 48–39 (.552) | ||||||||
Postseason: | 3–2 (.600) | ||||||||
Career: | 51–41 (.554) | ||||||||
Player stats at NFL.com | |||||||||
Raymond Emmett Berry Jr. (born February 27, 1933) is an American former professional
After catching very few passes in high school and college, Berry was drafted in the 20th round of the
After his playing career, Berry coached
Early life and college
Raymond Emmett Berry Jr. was born in
Professional playing career
Berry was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 20th round as the 203rd overall pick of the 1954 NFL draft. Considered a long-shot to make the team roster, [2] he was used sparingly as a rookie, catching only 13 passes. By his second NFL season he became a permanent starter when the Colts acquired quarterback Johnny Unitas. Over the next 12 seasons together the two became one of the most dominant passing and catching duos in NFL history.[2][7][3] Berry, who did not miss a single game until his eighth year in the league, led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards three times and in receiving touchdowns twice.[8]
In 1957, Berry caught 47 passes for 800 yards and six touchdowns, leading the NFL in receiving yards for the first time. Against the
One of Berry's most notable performances was in that 1958 NFL Championship Game, known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played", in which he led the Colts to the franchise's first title with a then championship record 12 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown in the Colts' 23–17 victory over the Giants.[12][2] At the end of regulation, he caught three consecutive passes for 62 yards to set up the Colts' tying field goal. He also had two key receptions for 33 yards during the Colts' final game-winning drive in overtime.[13][6] His 12 receptions would remain an NFL championship game record for more than half a century, topped by one by Demaryius Thomas in Super Bowl XLVIII after the 2013 season.[14]
Berry led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in 1959, becoming the fourth player to record a "triple crown" in receiving.[15] His 14 receiving touchdowns set a Colts single-season franchise record that stood unmatched for over four decades.[16] He was invited to his second straight Pro Bowl, and earned first-team All-Pro honors from the AP,[17] UPI,[18] the Newspaper Enterprise Association,[19] and the New York Daily News.[20] The Colts won back-to-back championships in an encore with the Giants, 31–16. In that game, Berry caught five passes for 68 yards, second on the team behind halfback Lenny Moore's 126 yards on three receptions.[21][22]
In 1960, Berry recorded his only 1,000-yard season, catching 74 passes en route to career highs in receiving yards (1,298) and receiving yards per game (108.2). Each of those totals led the NFL that year by a wide margin; no other player had more than 1,000 yards, and the next highest yards-per-game average was 81.0.[23] He had a mid-season string of six straight games with over 100 yards, during which he caught 50 passes for 920 yards and eight touchdowns.[24] Berry again was a Pro Bowl invitee, and earned first-team All-Pro honors from all the same selectors as the previous year,[25] including unanimous All-Pro recognition by UPI sportswriters.[26]
Following this zenith, Berry did not have the same statistical success over his final seven seasons, but remained a consistent target for Unitas. His 75 receptions in the 1961 season was second-most in the league, and he finished 10th in receiving yards, but failed to record a touchdown for the first time since his rookie year.[8] He scored the first touchdown of the 1962 Pro Bowl on a 16-yard reception from Unitas in the first quarter.[27] His streak of Pro Bowl invitations ended at four, but he rebounded to appearances in 1963 and 1964, the latter his final.[8] The Colts returned to the postseason in 1964, where they were shut out 27–0 by the Cleveland Browns in the 1964 championship game.[28]
After consecutive seasons recording 700+ receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 1965 and 1966, Berry missed half of the 1967 season due to injuries and caught only 11 passes for 167 yards. He announced his retirement shortly after the season's end.[29] He completed his professional playing career having caught 631 passes for 9,275 yards (14.7 yards per catch) and 68 touchdowns.[8] At the time, he held the NFL career records for receptions and receiving yards,[30][31] and his receiving touchdowns were tied for fourth most with Don Maynard.[32]
NFL career statistics
Legend | |
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Won the NFL championship | |
Led the league | |
Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fum | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | |||
1955 | BAL | 12 | 7 | 13 | 205 | 15.8 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
1956 | BAL | 12 | 9 | 37 | 601 | 16.2 | 54 | 2 | 1 |
1957 | BAL | 12 | 12 | 47 | 800 | 17.0 | 67 | 6 | 0 |
1958 | BAL | 12 | 12 | 56 | 794 | 14.2 | 54 | 9 | 0 |
1959 | BAL | 12 | 12 | 66 | 959 | 14.5 | 55 | 14 | 0 |
1960 | BAL | 12 | 12 | 74 | 1,298 | 17.5 | 70 | 10 | 0 |
1961 | BAL | 12 | 10 | 75 | 873 | 11.6 | 44 | 0 | 0 |
1962 | BAL | 14 | 12 | 51 | 687 | 13.5 | 37 | 3 | 1 |
1963 | BAL | 9 | 9 | 44 | 703 | 16.0 | 64 | 3 | 0 |
1964 | BAL | 12 | 12 | 43 | 663 | 15.4 | 46 | 6 | 0 |
1965 | BAL | 14 | 14 | 58 | 739 | 12.7 | 40 | 7 | 0 |
1966 | BAL | 14 | 14 | 56 | 786 | 14.0 | 40 | 7 | 0 |
1967 | BAL | 7 | 5 | 11 | 167 | 15.2 | 40 | 1 | 0 |
Career | 154 | 140 | 631 | 9,275 | 14.7 | 70 | 68 | 2 |
Postseason
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | ||
1958 | BAL | 1 | 1 | 12 | 178 | 14.8 | 25 | 1 |
1959 | BAL | 1 | 1 | 5 | 68 | 13.6 | 28 | 0 |
1964 | BAL | 1 | 1 | 3 | 38 | 12.7 | 23 | 0 |
1965 | BAL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
Career | 4 | 4 | 20 | 284 | 14.2 | 28 | 1 |
Coaching career
After retiring from playing, Berry joined Tom Landry's Dallas Cowboys coaching staff as receivers coach.[33] In 1970, after two seasons, Berry took a job with Frank Broyles at the University of Arkansas as receivers coach. In 1973 Berry joined Don McCafferty with the Detroit Lions as his receivers coach. In 1976, Berry joined former SMU teammate Forrest Gregg as his receivers coach with the Cleveland Browns. Berry joined the New England Patriots as receivers coach under Chuck Fairbanks in 1978. He stayed on with new coach Ron Erhardt until Erhardt and his entire staff were fired following a 2–14 1981 season. Berry left football and worked in real estate in Medfield, Massachusetts, until the Patriots fired Ron Meyer in the middle of the 1984 season and hired Berry to replace him. Under his leadership, the Patriots won four of their last eight games and finished the season with a 9–7 record.[34] Berry's importance to the team was reflected less in his initial win–loss record than in the respect he immediately earned in the locker room – according to running back Tony Collins, "Raymond Berry earned more respect in one day than Ron Meyer earned in three years".[35]
In the
The following season, Berry's Patriots again recorded an 11–5 record and made the playoffs, this time after winning their second division title as an NFL team. However, they lost in the first round of the postseason. It would be Berry's last postseason appearance in New England, and the Patriots' last playoff berth altogether until 1994. They narrowly missed the playoffs with an 8–7 record in 1987 (a strike-shortened season) and a 9–7 record in 1988, in which quarterback
After a year out of coaching, Berry joined Wayne Fontes' staff with the Detroit Lions in 1991 as their quarterbacks coach, and then held the same position the following season on Dan Reeves' staff with the Denver Broncos.[43] Reeves was fired after that season, along with his entire coaching staff.[44]
Coaching record
Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
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Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
NE | 1984 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in AFC East | - | - | ||
NE | 1985 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 3rd in AFC East | 3 | 1 | .750 | Lost to Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX |
NE | 1986 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Denver Broncos in AFC Divisional Game |
NE | 1987 | 8 | 7 | 0 | .533 | 2nd in AFC East | - | - | ||
NE | 1988 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3rd in AFC East | - | - | ||
NE | 1989 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in AFC East | - | - | ||
Total | 48 | 39 | 0 | .552 | 3 | 2 | .600 |
Profile
Berry overcame several physical ailments during his football career, a fact he became famous for,
Due to his poor eyesight, Berry wore contact lenses when he played.[13] Because the lenses would often slip when he did rapid eye movements toward the ball, he tried many different lenses, which led sportswriters to believe he must have had major eye problems. "I tried all kinds of lenses till we got what we wanted," he said. "I even had tinted lenses for sunny days, so I could watch the ball come right across the sun."[5]
Berry was famous for his attention to detail and preparation, which he used to overcome his physical limitations. Considered slow for a wide receiver, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds.[5] Rather than speed, he was renowned for his precise pass patterns and sure hands; he rarely dropped passes, and he fumbled only once in his career.[47][48] He would squeeze Silly Putty constantly to strengthen his hands.[47] He and Unitas regularly worked after practice and developed the timing and knowledge of each other's abilities that made each more effective. The reason for this, according to Berry, was that the two did not think on the same wavelength. "Every season we had to start all over on our timing, especially the long ball," said Berry. "He knew he had to release the ball when I was eighteen yards from scrimmage for me to receive it thirty-eight yards out. I knew I had to make my break in those first eighteen yards and get free within 2.8 seconds."[7] He also relied on shifty moves, and by his count, he had 88 different moves to get open,[2] all of which he practiced every week.[47]
Even in his adult years, Berry was soft-spoken and reserved. He preferred not to draw attention to himself, and was described by sportswriter Jim Murray as "polite as a deacon, as quiet as a monk."[39] Both as a player and as a coach, he was studious, serious, and orderly; "He was too straight and narrow—but a great guy, a hell of a guy," former Colts teammate Art Donovan said of Berry. "He was a little peculiar, to say the least."[47]
Honors
In 1973, Berry was voted into the
Personal life
Berry is a professed born again Christian and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.[55][56] He considers his faith to be a "huge part" of his life.[1] As of 2009, he lives with his wife in Tennessee.[57] On February 5, 2012, at Super Bowl XLVI, Berry carried the Vince Lombardi Trophy to midfield to present it to the New York Giants, who had just defeated the New England Patriots.[58] He was given the honor due to the game being played at Lucas Oil Stadium, the home stadium of his former team, the Colts, who had moved to Indianapolis in 1984.[48]
References
- ^ a b Berry 2016, p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e f "Raymond Berry Bio". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Newell, Cliff (February 10, 1985). "Raymond Berry: Underestimated Champion : Skinny Little Receiver Looked More Like a Candidate for the Hospital Than a Football Immortal at Schreiner". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ^ "Past Athletic Hall of Honor". Schreiner University. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Wills 2004, p. 348.
- ^ a b Olesker 2008, p. 105.
- ^ a b Wills 2004, p. 359.
- ^ a b c d e "Raymond Berry Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ^ "Unitas' Score Wins for Colts Over 'Skins in Last Minute, 21-17". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. November 11, 1957. p. 27. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ "1958 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
- ^ "Flashy Colts Seek First NFL Crown". The Eugene Guard. Associated Press. December 28, 1958. p. 24. Retrieved October 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Baltimore Colts at New York Giants – December 28th, 1958". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
- ^ a b Gregory, Sean (December 29, 2008). "Legends of the NFL's "Greatest Game Ever"". Time. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- ^ "Broncos Demaryius Thomas Sets Super Bowl Receptions Record In Losing Effort". cbslocal.com. February 2, 2014.
- ^ "Triple crown for receivers". Chicago Tribune. December 18, 2003. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
- ISBN 0313320489.
- ^ "Brown Tops All-Pro Squad". Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. December 23, 1959. p. 10. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- ^ "Berry, Brown, Huff Lead All-Pro Team". The Town Talk. United Press International. December 23, 1959. p. 11. Retrieved January 29, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Olderman, Murray (December 17, 1959). "Colts, Giants Dominate Players' All-Pro Teams". Redlands Daily Facts. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 8. Retrieved January 29, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1959 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
- ^ "New York Giants at Baltimore Colts – December 27th, 1959". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ Sell, Jack (December 28, 1959). "Colts Destroy Giants for Pro Crown, 31–16". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 20. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ "1960 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ "Raymond Berry 1960 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ "1960 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ "Ray Berry Only Unanimous Choice on All-Pro Team". Traverse City Record-Eagle. United Press International. December 21, 1960. p. 17. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- ^ "Unitas' Last-Second Pass Nips East, 31–20". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. January 15, 1962. p. 23. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- ^ "Cleveland Wallops Baltimore, 27–0". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. November 28, 1964. p. 1D. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- ^ Snyder, Cameron C. (January 7, 1968). "Retirement Is 'Certain,' Berry Says". The Baltimore Sun. p. 35. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- ^ "NFL Career Receptions Leaders Through 1967". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
- ^ "NFL Career Receiving Yards Leaders Through 1967". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
- ^ "NFL Career Receiving Touchdowns Leaders Through 1967". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
- ^ Couch, Dick (September 5, 1968). "Dallas Top Grid Choice". The Evening News. Associated Press. p. 6B. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ a b Donaldson, Jim (December 20, 1985). "Berry Again Overcomes The Skeptics". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- ^ Felger 2006, p. 76.
- ^ Rattey, Chris (October 8, 2015). "Squish the Fish: 1985 Patriots run one of the greatest in NFL history". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ Goldberg, Jeff (January 24, 1997). "Ah Yes, The '85 Pats: They Were Never Dull". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ "Patriots break jinx vs. Miami". Bangor Daily News. Associated Press. January 13, 1986. p. 8. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ a b Murray, Jim (January 23, 1986). "It's Not Berry's Part, but He's Got His Act Down Pat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
- ^ Felger 2006, p. 80.
- ^ "Patriots Fire Berry; Rust in Line for Job". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 27, 1990. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
- ^ "Raymond Berry Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
- ^ "Berry named QB coach of the Broncos". United Press International. February 12, 1992. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ "Denver Broncos fire Dan Reeves". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 29, 1992. p. 3B. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ a b Berry 2016, p. 13.
- ^ Berry 2016, p. 12.
- ^ a b c d Roberts, Rich (January 20, 1986). "The Meticulous Motivator Raymond Berry: Locked Into His Own Private World, He's Still Been Able to Leave It Long Enough to Reach the Hall of Fame and Super Bowl". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
- ^ a b Klingaman, Mike (January 21, 2012). "Former Colts great Raymond Berry has ties to Baltimore and New England". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ "Very Best of the NFL". Detroit Free Press. August 24, 1994. p. 1D. Retrieved November 10, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Graham, Huff on All-1950s Pro Football Selections". Racine Sunday Bulletin. Associated Press. August 31, 1969. p. 6C. Retrieved January 28, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sporting News Top 100 Football Players". Democrat and Chronicle. August 15, 1999. p. 3D. Retrieved November 10, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "NFL Retired Player Numbers". NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ISBN 978-0760345139.
- ^ Hensley, Jamison (October 5, 2002). "Ravens to honor Unitas, ex-Colts". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- ^ "Hall induction was full of stars". The Gadsden Times. May 23, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ Smith, Sam (January 16, 1986). "Pats Ripen Under Berry". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ Klingaman, Mike (December 15, 2009). "Catching Up With...former Colt Raymond Berry". The Toy Department (The Baltimore Sun sports blog). Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ^ Klingaman, Mike (February 6, 2012). "Raymond Berry's 'Super' Walk". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
Bibliography
- Berry, Raymond; Stewart, Wayne (2016). All the Moves I Had: A Football Life. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1493017812.
- ISBN 1596701544.
- ISBN 978-0801890628.
- ISBN 0618446907.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
- Raymond Berry at the Pro Football Hall of Fame