Best quarterback/wide receiver duos in NFL history

By Staff | Nov 1, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 16: Peyton Manning No. 18 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates the touchdown of Marvin Harrison No. 88 for a 30-20 lead over the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 16, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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BALTIMORE – 1960’s: (L to R) Quarterback Johnny Unitas No. 19 and wide receiver Raymond Berry No. 82 of the Baltimore Colts talk on the sidelines during a game circa 1960’s at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

5. Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry

It’s hard to believe a quarterback like Johnny Unitas was drafted No. 102 overall in the 1955 NFL Draft. It’s even more difficult to believe Unitas was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though he never played a game for Pittsburgh, it’s intriguing to imagine him in that uniform instead of a Baltimore Colts uniform.

After a slow rookie season, Unitas emerged for 2,550 passing yards and 24 touchdowns in 1957. He depended heavily on Raymond Berry, who caught 47 passes for a league-leading 800 receiving yards.

Berry was drafted No. 232 overall by the Colts in the 1954 NFL Draft, and he turned out to be a “value pick” in every sense. He and Unitas formed a formidable duo that led the Colts to back-to-back championships in 1958 and 1959.

Berry led the NFL in receiving yards three times in his career and in receiving touchdowns twice. He hung it up in 1967 — six years before Unitas did. Berry was fortunate enough to retire the year before Joe Namath and the New York Jets took down Unitas and the Colts in the ’68 Super Bowl. As mentioned earlier, Namath kind of turned that game into an even bigger deal by guaranteeing the Jets’ victory.

Maybe if Unitas had Berry to throw to, Namath wouldn’t have been able to live down the disappointment and embarrassment of losing that Super Bowl. There’s no way to know, but it’s fun to think about.

Berry retired with 68 receiving touchdowns in his career, and 63 of them came from Unitas. Unitas finished with 290 touchdowns in a long 18-year career. Berry was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1973, and Unitas was voted in six years later.

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