Walter Ray Perkins was the football coach for Alabama and the NFL. Prior to being the coach, Perkins played in the position of the wide receiver for the University of Alabama’s team and the Baltimore Colts. He had been a coach for 28 years and was the head coach for teams like the New York Giants and the Arkansas State of University.
On 9th December 2020, Perkins died at the age of 79 at his home in Tuscaloosa. His daughter confirmed the news but did not specify the cause of his death. She had said that he had pre-existing heart problems in recent years.
Ray Perkins Net Worth is Estimated at $35 Million
According to Idol Networth, Ray Perkins had an estimated net worth of $35 Million as of 2020, until his death. His net worth has been mostly generated from his career as a football player and coach.
Perkins attended the University of Alabama where he played football from 1964 to 1966, marking the beginning of his football career. He played under the coach, Bear Bryant. In his senior year at Alabama, Perkins became the team captain and was also selected into the 1966 College Football All-America team.
Following this, Perkins joined the Baltimore Colts of the NFL from 1967-1971, under the coach, Don Shula. He led the Colts to a 27-17 win against the Oakland Raiders in the 1970 AFC Championship Game, taking the team to a berth in the Super Bowl V.
Ray Perkins Was a Coach Before a Player
Ray Perkins had spent more years as a coach, than as a player but proved more successful as a player. He began his coaching career in 1974, acting as the assistant coach for the New England Patriots and the San Diego Charges in the NFL. He went on to become the head coach of the New York Giants in 1979.
Perkins also succeeded Bear Bryant, who was the head coach at his alma mater, University of Alabama. A controversy arose from unsatisfied alumni at Alabama that led Perkins to leave as the head coach and try his second chance as the head coach for the NFL.
Following this, Perkins went on to become an offensive coordinator for Arkansas State, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, and Cleveland Browns. He went back to college coaching in 2012 and fully retired from football in 2017.
Ray Perkins Will Be Missed By His Friends and Family
After the death of Perkins was announced, Alabama coach, Nick Saban stated during the SEC Teleconference,
“Our condolences to Ray Perkins’ family and friends. He served the University of Alabama with great class and integrity. He was a great coach, and he had a tremendous impact on the game, and he was a really good person and a really good friend.”
A former colleague of Perkins’, Bill Parcel also had a few words to say about Perkins,
“Loved Ray and he was a very close friend of mine. Was very saddened by the news. He’s the only reason I was in pro football. He’s the one who brought me into the league. He was my friend.”
Perkin was indeed a man so loved and cherished throughout his career. He was also termed a workaholic, a man who studied the practices and games, at the expense of losing time with his family. During a 1979 interview with New York Times, Perkins stated, “I don’t remember taking a vacation,” when he took over the Giants. Then he remembered one: “There was a week once in Toledo Bend — that’s in a corner of Louisiana and Texas.”
