After catching very few passes in high school and college, Berry was selected in the 20th round of the 1954 NFL draft by the Colts and was considered a long shot to make the team's roster.

He made up for his lack of athleticism through rigorous practice and attention to detail, and was known for his near-perfect route running and sure-handedness.

Berry was a favorite target of quarterback Johnny Unitas, and the two were regarded as the dominant passing and receiving duo of their era.

After his playing career, Berry coached wide receivers for the Dallas Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Detroit Lions, the Cleveland Browns and the Patriots.

Berry led the Patriots to Super Bowl XX following the 1985 season, where his team was defeated by the Chicago Bears, 46–10.

[2] After high school Berry played one year of junior college football at Shreiner Institute (now Schreiner University) in Kerrville, Texas, during the 1950 campaign.

Sportswriters attributed his lack of receptions to his poor eyesight, but during the early 1950s, colleges specialized in the running game.

[5] He also played outside linebacker and defensive end for the Mustangs, despite weighing only 180 pounds (82 kg) even by his senior year.

Against the Washington Redskins that year in near-freezing weather, Unitas connected with Berry on 12 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns, staging what the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called a "spectacular show".

[9] He was recognized as a first-team All-Pro by The Sporting News and earned second-team honors from the Associated Press (AP).

For his efforts, Berry was invited to his first Pro Bowl, and was a first-team All-Pro by the AP and several other major selectors.

[10] The Colts finished atop the Western Division with a record of 9–3 and faced the New York Giants in the NFL Championship Game.

[12][2] At the end of regulation, he caught three consecutive passes for 62 yards to set up the Colts' tying field goal.

[13][6] His 12 receptions would remain an NFL championship game record for more than half a century, topped by one by Demaryius Thomas in Super Bowl XLVIII after the 2013 season.

[16] He was invited to his second straight Pro Bowl, and earned first-team All-Pro honors from the AP,[17] UPI,[18] the Newspaper Enterprise Association,[19] and the New York Daily News.

Each of those totals led the NFL that year by a wide margin; no other player had more than 1,000 yards, and the next highest yards-per-game average was 81.0.

[26] Following this zenith, Berry did not have the same statistical success over his final seven seasons, but remained a consistent target for Unitas.

His 75 receptions in the 1961 season was second-most in the league, and he finished 10th in receiving yards, but failed to record a touchdown for the first time since his rookie year.

In 1976, Berry joined former SMU teammate Forrest Gregg as his receivers coach with the Cleveland Browns.

[45] He was skinny and injury-prone, such that when his college teammates saw him for the first time they sarcastically dubbed him, "Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy".

[3] Reportedly, because one leg was shorter than the other, Berry had to wear padding inside his shoe to walk properly.

He preferred not to draw attention to himself, and was described by sportswriter Jim Murray as "polite as a deacon, as quiet as a monk.

[53] Berry's number 82 jersey is retired by the Colts,[54] he is a member of the Patriots' 1980s All-Decade Team as a coach,[55] and he is enshrined in the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor.

[59] On February 5, 2012, at Super Bowl XLVI, Berry carried the Vince Lombardi Trophy to midfield to present it to the New York Giants, who had just defeated the New England Patriots.