Philadelphia Eagles legend Billy Ray Barnes has passed away at the age of 90.
Barnes, who retired from the sport in 1996, spent five years in Philadelphia during his NFL career and helped the franchise capture the 1960 Championship.
His death was confirmed by his daughter Billi Barnes Akins, who revealed that the former halfback was surrounded by his family when he passed on Wednesday.
In a statement given to the Eagles, Akins said: ‘He was 90 and had a fabulous life.
‘One of the things that he loved about the Eagles is in that championship game, they were the underdogs. Dad always liked being the underdog. He said it made him tougher, made him stronger, made him play harder.
‘He said the only thing that allowed them to win was their team. They were a team that was really tight and believed in each other.’
Philadelphia Eagles legend Billy Ray Barnes has passed away at the age of 90
Barnes spent five years in Philadelphia and helped them win the 1960 NFL Championship
After being drafted as a second-round selective in 1957, Barnes went on to earn three Pro Bowl honors during his first three years in Philadelphia.
During the title game against the Packers in 1960, Barnes ran the ball 13 times for 42 yards and made a key 13-yard reception on the game-winning drive.
Akins also revealed that Barnes’ 1960 Championship ring was previously stolen from their home, before she and her twin sister bought a replacement for him.
She also noted that, after returning to Philadelphia for a reunion back in 2010, Barnes was left stunned by the reception he and his former teammates received from fans.
‘He never realized how people thought of these guys as the greatest ever,’ Akins said. ‘People you wouldn’t even know would just call him and reach out to him.
‘The biggest thing was the friendships that he had made there. They were lifelong. He talked to a bunch of guys on the phone for years. He enjoyed everything about Philadelphia.’
After leaving the Eagles, he spent time with the Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings. He also became head coach of the Continental Football League’s Charleston Rockets in 1968.
Shortly after his death was announced, Eagles fans quickly rushed to social media to pay tribute to their former star. The team’s post on X, which confirmed the news, was inundated with heartfelt responses from Philadelphia fans.
