Overview
- Berry died May 25, 2026, at age 93, peacefully at his home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the family said in a statement released through the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- He spent his entire 13-year playing career (1955–1967) with the Baltimore Colts and retired with 631 catches, 9,275 yards and 68 touchdowns, marks that were NFL records when he left the game.
- Berry caught 12 passes for 178 yards in the 1958 NFL Championship Game, a performance that helped make that contest — often called 'The Greatest Game Ever Played' — a turning point for pro football's national popularity.
- After a long run as an assistant coach, he became New England's head coach in 1984 and led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl appearance following the 1985 season, finishing his head-coaching tenure 48-39.
- The Hall of Fame, the Colts, the Ravens, the Patriots and owners including Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Robert Kraft issued tributes that praised his work ethic, precise route-running and lasting influence on the modern passing game.