Indianapolis Colts: 30 greatest players in franchise history
5. player. 46. . Wide Receiver. 1955-67. Raymond Berry
One of the first truly dominant receivers in NFL history, Raymond Berry set the standard for superstar pass catchers. Not only did he make minced meat of opposing defenses, but he was the favorite target of one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time (more on him later).
Well before the days of the passing bonanza that is today’s NFL, Berry was still putting up huge numbers for the Colts. Here’s the perfect example of this. Despite playing in the 1950s and 1960s, Berry is behind only two other receivers in franchise history in career receiving yards. That’s bonkers considering the state of the passing game back then.
His immense production and dominance on game days resulted in two NFL championships, six Pro Bowl selections, six All-Pro honors and numerous franchise records by the time he retired. Although many of his records have since been broken by two of the Colts’ more recent receiving superstars, his impact speaks for itself.
Berry is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, having been inducted way back in 1973. His overall body of work and status as an all-time great is all the more inspiring when you consider he was drafted by Baltimore in the 20th round. Talk about an epic underdog story.