Fansided

Top 30 duos in NFL history

By Jarrett Bailey

BALTIMORE - 1960's: (L to R) Quarterback Johnny Unitas #19 and wide receiver Raymond Berry #82 of the Baltimore Colts on the sidelines during a game circa 1960's at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE - 1960's: (L to R) Quarterback Johnny Unitas #19 and wide receiver Raymond Berry #82 of the Baltimore Colts on the sidelines during a game circa 1960's at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
24 of 30
Next
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)
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) /

7. Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry

There may have been better, more exciting tandems since these two played together from 1956-67, but the NFL wouldn’t be what it is today without Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry.

With Unitas and Berry, the Colts didn’t lose. They were consistently one of the top teams in the NFL with Unitas and Berry at the top of their games.

In 1958, the two parties engineered the most important drive in the history of professional football in the 1958 NFL Championship Game. Trailing with little time left, Unitas led the Colts downfield utilizing the two-minute drill, hitting Berry on multiple occasions. The Colts would tie the game to force the first overtime in NFL history. Unitas led the Colts down the field once more, which led to the game-winning score as Baltimore beat the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium.

Berry led the NFL in receptions every year from 1958-60. The Colts passing game was ahead of its time, and they utilized it more than anyone in the league. Berry was a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro in his time with the Colts. He retired after the 1967 season, which was also Johnny Unitas’ final season in Baltimore. Unitas and Berry revolutionized the passing game, and both men are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Home/NFL