Raymond Berry Dies at 93, Hall of Famer Won 2 NFL Championships with Baltimore Colts

Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver and Baltimore Colts legend Raymond Berry died recently at the age of 93.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo shared a statement from the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Monday, which announced that Berry "died peacefully" on May 25, "surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren."

Berry spent his entire, 13-year playing career with the Colts from 1955 to 1967, winning a pair of NFL championships in 1958 and 1959.

He later became an NFL head coach, serving in that role with the New England Patriots for six seasons from 1984 to 1989.

Originally selected by the Colts in the 20th round of the 1954 NFL draft out of SMU, Berry far exceeded expectations as arguably the greatest receiver of his generation.

Berry was a six-time Pro Bowler, three-time First Team All-Pro and three-time Second Team All-Pro. He also led the NFL in receptions and receiving yardage in a season three times each, and in touchdown receptions in a season twice.

A member of the NFL's 1950s All-Decade Team, 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Berry retired after the 1967 season as the NFL's all-time leader in receptions (631) and receiving yards (9,275). He was also tied for fourth in career touchdown catches at the time with 68.

Berry's defining moment as a player came in the 1958 NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants, which is nicknamed "The Greatest Game Ever Played."

In Baltimore's 23-17 victory, Berry had 12 receptions for 178 yards and a touchdown. His 12 catches remained an NFL record in a championship game until Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas caught 13 passes in Super Bowl XLVIII in February 2014.

Berry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973, meaning he was enshrined in the Hall of Fame longer than any living Hall of Famer prior to his death.

Following his iconic playing career, Berry got into coaching as a wide receivers coach, but his big break came in the middle of the 1984 season when he was named head coach of the Patriots.

In his six seasons at the helm, Berry went 48-39 with a pair of playoff appearances.

That included leading the Patriots to their first Super Bowl in franchise history at the conclusion of the 1985 season.

New England was famously dominated 46-10 in Super Bowl XX by the 1985 Chicago Bears, who are widely considered to be among the greatest teams in NFL history.

After departing the Patriots following the 1989 season, Berry spent 1991 as the Detroit Lions' quarterbacks coach, and he served in that same role with the Denver Broncos in 1992, coaching future Hall of Famer John Elway.