Former Oregon Ducks and NFL quarterback and UO athletics Hall of Famer Bob Berry died Wednesday at 81. Oregon athletics announced Berry’s passing but did not state a cause.
Oregon’s quarterback in 1962-64, Berry led to the Ducks to a 21-6-1 mark as the starter for head coach Len Casanova. He was the first Ducks quarterback to throw for over 1,000 years in two seasons and his 16 touchdown passes in 1963 and 39 career scoring passes were the school record for 23 years. An AFCA All-American in 1964, Berry threw for 4,297 career yards at UO and played with future Pro Football Hall of Famers Mel Renfro and Dave Wilcox.
Born and raised in San Jose, California, Berry played football at Willow Glen High School. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 11th round of the 1964 NFL draft and by the Denver Broncos in the 26th round of that year’s AFL draft, but played his senior season at UO and signed with the Minnesota Vikings, who traded for his draft rights.
Berry spent three seasons with the Vikings and went to the Atlanta Falcons in 1968. He started 51 games over five seasons with the Falcons, throwing for 8,489 yards and 57 touchdowns, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1969. Berry was traded back to the Vikings in 1973 and spent four more seasons in Minnesota, appearing in three Super Bowls (VIII, IX, and XI).
In 1985, Berry received UO’s distinguished alumnus award. He was inducted to the Oregon sports Hall of Fame in 1987 and was a member of the inaugural class of the University of Oregon athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.
