Hall of Fame Wide Receiver and Former Patriots Coach Raymond Berry Dies at 93
8 verified5 unconfirmed
Raymond Berry, the Hall of Fame wide receiver who formed one of the NFL’s most effective passing combinations with Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas and later coached the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance, has died at age 93. Multiple reports confirm Berry died in late May, with the Pro Football Hall of Fame announcing his passing. Berry spent his entire 13-year playing career with the Colts, setting league records for receptions and receiving yards at the time of his retirement. He was a key figure in the 1958 NFL Championship Game, known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” where he caught 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. After retiring, Berry transitioned to coaching, serving as a wide receivers coach for several teams before becoming head coach of the Patriots from 1984 to 1989. He led New England to a Super Bowl XX appearance in the 1985 season, finishing his head coaching career with a 48-39 record. Berry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and had his jersey number 82 retired by the Colts.
What’s verified
Raymond Berry died at age 93, with his death reported in late May 2026.
He played 13 seasons for the Baltimore Colts, recording 631 career receptions and 68 touchdowns.
Berry was a 20th-round draft pick out of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 1954.
He teamed with quarterback Johnny Unitas to help the Colts win NFL championships in 1958 and 1959.
In the 1958 championship game, known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” he had 12 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown.
Berry later coached the New England Patriots from 1984 to 1989, compiling a 48-39 record and leading the team to Super Bowl XX.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973, and the Colts retired his uniform number 82.
Berry served as a wide receivers coach for multiple NFL teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and New England Patriots.
Not yet confirmed
Specific details about Berry’s physical limitations and preparation methods, such as using Silly Putty to strengthen his fingers and simulating games, are reported by only one source.
His wife’s name, Sally, and the location of his death (Murfreesboro, Tennessee) come from a single report.
One source mentions Berry earned four straight All-Pro honors (1957-1960) and finished fifth in MVP voting in 1959, while another source says he played in six Pro Bowls.
Coaching roles not mentioned in both reports, such as stints with the Detroit Lions, Arkansas, and Denver Broncos, are from a single source.
The exact date of death is given as May 25 by one report, while another says “two weekends ago” relative to June 1, 2026.
Key figures
Raymond Berry, Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts, New England Patriots, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Sources: abcnews.com, profootballrumors.com
