Hall of Fame wide receiver Raymond Berry dies at 93

Raymond Berry, the Hall of Fame wide receiver whose precise route-running and reliable hands made him a cornerstone of the Baltimore Colts’ dynasty and one half of a legendary partnership with quarterback Johnny Unitas, died on May 25 at his home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was 93. His family announced he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.

Berry’s 13-season career, spent entirely with the Colts, produced a then-record 631 receptions for 9,275 yards and 68 touchdowns. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, led the NFL in receptions three times, and was a key member of championship teams in 1958 and 1959. His number 82 was retired by the Colts, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973. He was also named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1950s and its 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.

His most celebrated performance came in the 1958 NFL Championship Game, often called “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” Facing the New York Giants in the league’s first sudden-death overtime title contest, Berry caught 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown, helping secure a 23-17 victory for Baltimore. The nationally televised game is widely credited...