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Ray Perkins (born December 6, 1941) is a former football player and coach at both the collegiate professional levels.

Contents 1 Player 2 Coaching Career 3 Honors 4 External links 5 See also

Perkins attended the University of Alabama, playing football 1964-66. He played for the legendary coach Bear Bryant and was a teammate of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath. The Crimson Tide won national championships in both 1964 and 1965.

He played for the NFL Baltimore Colts as a wide receiver from 1967-71. Perkins caught a 68-yard touchdown pass from 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.

He coached in the NFL as an assistant for the New England Patriots (1973-77) and San Diego Chargers (1978) before becoming head coach of the New York Giants from 1979-1982, helping to build the team that his successor, Bill Parcells, won the Super Bowl with in 1986. Perkins hired future NFL Head Coaches Parcells, Bill Belichick and Romeo Crennel as young assistants.

Perkins became head coach at his alma mater, the University of Alabama, from 1983-1986, compiling a record of 32-15-1 and winning three bowl games. He has the distinction of being the only head coach to lead Alabama to a victory over the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. A lucrative contract from the Tampa Bay Buccanneers led Perkins to leave Alabama for a career in the NFL after the 1986 season. In 1992, former Alabama player Gene Jelks, who was recruited by Perkins, publically accused Alabama coaches and boosters of providing him with illegal cash payments and other inducements during his recruitment and years at Alabama (Jelks played from 1985-1990). Jelks' charges resulted in an NCAA investigation of Alabama, and the football program was placed on probation in 1995. Perkins' former assistant coach Jerry Pullen sued Jelks for slander, but lost that case and two subsequent appeals.

Perkins served as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1987-1990. His career coaching record in the NFL was 42-75-0. Perkins later was the offensive coordinator of the Patriots and the Oakland Raiders.

Perkins coached one year at Arkansas State University in 1992.

He was elected to the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame in 2005.

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Preceded by John McVay	New York Giants Head Coach 1979–1982	Succeeded by Bill Parcells
Preceded by Bear Bryant	Alabama Crimson Tide Head Football Coach 1983–1986	Succeeded by Bill Curry
Preceded by Leeman Bennett	Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach 1987–1990	Succeeded by Richard Williamson
Preceded by Al Kincaid	Arkansas State University Head Football Coach 1992	Succeeded by John Bobo

New York Giants Head Coaches
Folwell • Alexander • Potteiger • Andrews • Friedman • Owen • Howell • Sherman • Webster • Arnsparger • McVay • Perkins • Parcells • Handley • Reeves • Fassel • Coughlin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coaches
McKay • Bennett • Perkins • Williamson • Wyche • Dungy • Gruden