Practice, Practice, Practice

  A 20th-round draft pick from SMU in 1954, Raymond Berry was  actually drafted by the Colts a year before he was eligible to join the NFL. When he did join the Colts in 1955 his rookie season he did start 7 games and managed 13 catches.

  One thing that has been noted about Raymond Berry by his peers was his determination to get better. By his own admittance, he hated to drop any pass thrown his way so he practiced constantly to get better. Not a speedster, he perfected his route running, which worked perfectly into the passing style of Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas. By his second season he was the Colts starting Left End and by 1957 he was becoming one of the league’s best receivers.

Picture of Raymond Berry of the Baltimore Colts
Raymond Berry

 He was Baltimore’s top reciever 8 times in his 13-year career, a 3-time All Pro and 6-time Pro Bowler he also  led the NFL Receptions 3 times (1958-60), in Receiving Yards 3 times (1957, 1959,1960) and in Touchdown Catches twice (1958-59). In 1967 he retired as the NFL’s All-Time Leading receiver with 631 catches and 9275 receiving yards.

In 1984 Raymond Berry became Head Coach of the New England Patriots and help that position until 1989. In 1985 the Patriots made won the AFC Conference Championship and made a appearance in Super Bowl XX against the Chicago Bears.

Image Gallery of Raymond Berry, Quarterback 1955-1967

Raymond Berry Football Cards

Raymond Berry All Time Career Statistics

Regular Season Career Receiving Totals
 Receiving
YearAgeTeamPos#GamesCatchesYardsY/RLongTD
195522BALLE82121320515.8450
195623BALLE82123760116.2542
195724BALLE821247800♦17.0676
1958*+25BALLE821256♦79414.2549♦
1959*+26BALLE821266♦959♦14.55514♦
1960*+27BALLE821274♦1298♦17.57010
1961*28BALLE82127587311.6440
196229BALLE82145168713.5373
1963*30BALLE8294470316.0643
1964*31BALLE82124366315.4466
196532BALLE82145873912.7407
196633BALLE82145678614.0407
196734BALLE8271116715.2401
13-Year NFL Career154631‡9275‡14.77068
Post Season Receiving Totals
  Receiving
Year Age Team Pos Games Catches Yards Y/R Long TD
1958*+ 25 BAL LE 1 12 178 14.8 25 1
1959*+ 26 BAL LE 1 5 68 13.6 28 0
1964* 31 BAL SE 1 3 38 12.7 23 0
1965 32 BAL SE 1         0
Career Post Season Totals 4 20 284 14.2 28 1
  • + – All-Pro Selection
  • * – Pro Bowl Selection
  • ♦ – Led the League
  • ‡ – NFL All-Time Record in 1967

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phil

Owner/Operator of NFL Past Players. Also runs New Orleans Saints History