I do hope everybody enjoyed their summer. With fall on the way, we are all seeing the leaves change and there’s that autumn smell. One thing is for sure when fall arrives: football season begins.

I believe I’ve made this clear previously, but I never was much of an athlete growing up. The only athletic trophy that I ever won was a silver second-place trophy for Punt, Pass and Kick as a 10-year-old in 1976. The competition was held over at MTSU and you were judged on how far you could throw a football down the line, how far you could punt a football down a line and how far could you kick a football down the line. So as a 10-year-old bucktoothed boy I thought I had really done something; of course, there were only four participants. Worst-case scenario would have been fourth (and no trophy).

Now that you’ve heard about my own football prowess, here’s a connection between Murfreesboro, Tennessee and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, that I bet you didn’t know about. Did you know that the oldest living player member of the hallowed Hall of Fame lives right here in Murfreesboro?

I’m referring to Raymond Berry. He played as a split end for the Baltimore Colts from 1955 to 1967.

With the Colts, He led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards three times and in receiving touchdowns twice, and was invited to six Pro Bowls. The Colts won back-to-back NFL Championships, including the 1958 NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants, later billed as “The Greatest Game Ever Played” in which Berry caught 12 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown.

He retired as the all-time NFL leader in both receptions and receiving yardage.

Berry played football at Southern Methodist University and really didn’t catch many passes during high school and college. Berry was selected in the 20th round of the 1954 NFL Draft by the Colts and was considered a long-shot to even make the team’s roster. Berry making it to the Hall of Fame is viewed as one of the biggest Cinderella stories ever in the NFL.

According to reports, he was known for his hard work at practice and his near-perfect route running, making him a favorite target for superstar QB Johnny Unitas, a three-time MVP still considered as one of the sport’s greatest players. The two were known as the top passing and receiving duo of their era.

After his playing career, Berry became the New England Patriots’ head coach in 1984 and held that position through 1989, amassing 48 wins. Berry led the Patriots to Super Bowl XX following the 1985 season, though his team was defeated by the Chicago Bears 46–10.

In recognition of his playing career, Berry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973. He is a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary Team as one of the best players of the NFL’s first 75 years, and a unanimous selection to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team as one of the best players of the NFL’s first 100 years. His number 82 is retired by the (now Indianapolis) Colts. Berry is currently the oldest living former player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

What’s so cool for me is back in 2008 I got to show Mr. and Mrs. Berry some properties here in Murfreesboro. They were moving to the area to be closer to family. I’ll never forget standing in the front yard of a home here and asking Coach Berry what was it like catching passes from Johnny Unitas, and how he spoke to me with fervor and demonstrated a route he would run for Unitas. He was passionate about the conversation. During the short time I got to spend with him, he was kind and approachable and answered all my questions. I remember seeing the Berrys at dinner one night a year later and he still remembered having met me.

He considers his faith to be a huge part of his life and its success, and Raymond has long been involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

At Super Bowl XLVI, Berry carried the Vince Lombardi Trophy to midfield to present it to the New York Giants, who had just defeated the New England Patriots. He was given the honor due to the game being played at Lucas Oil Stadium, the home stadium at that time of his former team, the Colts, who had moved to Indianapolis in 1984.

Berry is a living legend, a man who, because of hard work and faith, went from being drafted in the 20th round to becoming a Hall of Famer who set the pace for wide receivers and athletes in general. Follow in his footsteps and anything is possible. He still lives here in Murfreesboro today. Thank you, Coach, for all you have done for the game of football and for the lives of those who benefited from knowing you.

Now everybody go out there and make a Berry moment and, as always, do something nice for someone else. God bless!

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Photo, top, Raymond Berry in 2017 by Tyler Lamb / Courtesy of MTSU Sidelines
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