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Ray Perkins
Walter Ray Perkins (November 6, 1941 – December 9, 2020) was an American professional football coach and player. He played as a wide receiver for the University of Alabama and Baltimore Colts. He later worked as a football coach for 28 years, including stints as the head coach for the New York Giants, the University of Alabama, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Arkansas State University.
Perkins was born in Mt. Olive, Mississippi, on November 6, 1941, and moved to Petal, Mississippi, near Hattiesburg, when he was three. He was known for his extraordinary work ethic as a youth in Petal, and was an All-America running back at Petal High School. For four years of high school, Perkins began each day by opening the service station across the street at 6 a.m., working there during his lunch break, and then closing the station at the end the day. He earned the high school nickname "Grease" due to the condition of his clothes from work.
He attended the University of Alabama, playing football from 1964 to 1966. He played for coach Bear Bryant and was a teammate of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Namath and Ken Stabler. Bryant moved Perkins from running back to receiver after Perkins suffered a serious head injury that led surgeons to drill three holes in his skull to reduce the pressure.
The Crimson Tide won national championships in both 1964 and 1965, and Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships in 1964, 1965, and 1966. During his senior year, he was named team captain. He was also selected as an All-American in 1966, as well as SEC Player of the Year. Bryant called Perkins the best offensive player on the two championship teams. Statistically, he had:
Perkins was nicknamed the "Alabama Hummingbird".
The National Football League's Baltimore Colts selected Perkins in the 7th round of the 1966 NFL draft, 110th overall. The American Football League's (AFL) Boston Patriots drafted him in the 5th round of the 1966 AFL draft, 38th overall. He chose to play for the Colts.
Perkins played as a wide receiver for the Colts from 1967 to 1971, initially under future Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula. Perkins caught a 68-yard touchdown pass from Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas in the 1970 AFC Championship Game to lead the Colts to a 27–17 victory over the Oakland Raiders and a berth in Super Bowl V. Perkins went on to win a Super Bowl ring after the Colts beat the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V.
He came to the Colts during Hall of Fame receiver Raymond Berry's final season, and learned film study from Berry. Perkins learned to read defenses from Unitas. His mentors Unitas, Berry, and Shula are on the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. While typically wary of inexperienced receivers, Unitas accepted Perkins as a rookie because of his skills and understanding of the game.
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Ray Perkins
Walter Ray Perkins (November 6, 1941 – December 9, 2020) was an American professional football coach and player. He played as a wide receiver for the University of Alabama and Baltimore Colts. He later worked as a football coach for 28 years, including stints as the head coach for the New York Giants, the University of Alabama, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Arkansas State University.
Perkins was born in Mt. Olive, Mississippi, on November 6, 1941, and moved to Petal, Mississippi, near Hattiesburg, when he was three. He was known for his extraordinary work ethic as a youth in Petal, and was an All-America running back at Petal High School. For four years of high school, Perkins began each day by opening the service station across the street at 6 a.m., working there during his lunch break, and then closing the station at the end the day. He earned the high school nickname "Grease" due to the condition of his clothes from work.
He attended the University of Alabama, playing football from 1964 to 1966. He played for coach Bear Bryant and was a teammate of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Namath and Ken Stabler. Bryant moved Perkins from running back to receiver after Perkins suffered a serious head injury that led surgeons to drill three holes in his skull to reduce the pressure.
The Crimson Tide won national championships in both 1964 and 1965, and Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships in 1964, 1965, and 1966. During his senior year, he was named team captain. He was also selected as an All-American in 1966, as well as SEC Player of the Year. Bryant called Perkins the best offensive player on the two championship teams. Statistically, he had:
Perkins was nicknamed the "Alabama Hummingbird".
The National Football League's Baltimore Colts selected Perkins in the 7th round of the 1966 NFL draft, 110th overall. The American Football League's (AFL) Boston Patriots drafted him in the 5th round of the 1966 AFL draft, 38th overall. He chose to play for the Colts.
Perkins played as a wide receiver for the Colts from 1967 to 1971, initially under future Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula. Perkins caught a 68-yard touchdown pass from Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas in the 1970 AFC Championship Game to lead the Colts to a 27–17 victory over the Oakland Raiders and a berth in Super Bowl V. Perkins went on to win a Super Bowl ring after the Colts beat the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V.
He came to the Colts during Hall of Fame receiver Raymond Berry's final season, and learned film study from Berry. Perkins learned to read defenses from Unitas. His mentors Unitas, Berry, and Shula are on the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. While typically wary of inexperienced receivers, Unitas accepted Perkins as a rookie because of his skills and understanding of the game.