Remembering Raymond Berry

Raymond Berry, former SMU Mustang great turned two-time NFL champion with the Baltimore Colts and Pro Football Hall of Famer, is being remembered for his legendary career and work ethic.

Berry, who is widely regarded as among the best wide receivers in NFL history, died May 25 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, at 93, according to his family, per the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

During his time at SMU, Berry was selected as team co-captain in 1954, earned All-Southwest Conference honors, and was named an Academic All-American during his senior year, according to the university. He was chosen by the Baltimore Colts in the 20th round of the NFL draft in 1954.

He led the Colts to the NFL Championship in 1958. Berry retired following the 1967 season as a two-time NFL champion, the league’s leader in receptions three times, the NFL receiving yards leader three times, and as a five-time Pro Bowler.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and went on to serve as the head coach of the New England Patriots from 1984 to 1989, leading the Patriots to Super Bowl XX in 1985.

Berry received SMU’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1967, was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1974, and named to the GTE Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1993. He was also inducted in SMU’s Hall of Fame in 2010 and remains only one of six Mustang football players to have his jersey retired.

“Berry left an undeniable impact on the SMU community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time,” a post from SMU Football reads.

The Baltimore Ravens remembered Berry in a post on social media for his “clutch playmaking, precise approach, and unmatched work ethic.”

“Raymond Berry is a football icon. As one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, he routinely thrilled fans with his clutch playmaking, precise approach, and unmatched work ethic,” the post read. “His impact on Baltimore sports and the NFL will endure forever.”

He is survived by by his wife of 65 years, Sally, their three children and nine grandchildren, according to Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Rachel Snyder

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Rachel Snyder, managing editor at People Newspapers, first joined the staff in 2019. She's covered everything from Dallas and University Park municipal government to business. Rachel began her journalism career at the daily newspaper The Express Star in Chickasha, Okla. She went on to work for the daily Duncan Banner in Duncan, Okla. the weekly Sand Springs Leader, and WFAA-TV in Dallas. She’s a fan of puns and community journalism, not necessarily in that order.