Santa Cruz’s Bob Berry, a quarterback who helped the Minnesota Vikings reach three Super Bowls in the mid-1970s, died in Santa Cruz on Wednesday at the age of 81.
Berry played in the NFL for 12 seasons and was a Pro Bowl selection for the Atlanta Falcons in ’69. He passed for 9,197 yards and 64 touchdowns during his professional career.
Berry, born March 10, 1942 in San Jose, went to Willow Glen High before shining at University of Oregon from 1962-64. He was named a first-team All-American his senior year with the Ducks. He was the first Oregon quarterback to throw for over 1,000 yards in two different seasons. He went 21-6-1 as the starter and finished with 4,267 career passing yards and 39 touchdowns.
He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1964 NFL Draft, as well as by the Denver Broncos in the 26th round of the AFL draft. He elected to play his senior season at Oregon, and his draft rights were traded to Minnesota.
Berry played a total of seven seasons with the Vikings (1965-67, and ’73-76) and five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (’68-72). His teams qualified for Super Bowls VIII, IX, and XI.
He retired after the 1976 season and was inducted into the Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.
The #Vikings send condolences to the friends and family of former QB Bob Berry.
Berry, who played for the club from 1965-67 and 1973-76, passed away Wednesday. He was 81. https://t.co/mUsjtoNN5m pic.twitter.com/2X3tYFIf1p
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 20, 2023