Philadelphia Eagles Former Pro Bowler Dies

Billy Ray Barnes entered the world in 1935 amid the hardships of the Great Depression in rural North Carolina. From those modest roots emerged a remarkable athletic journey that spanned college excellence in two sports and a distinguished nine-year tenure in professional football.

His accomplishments stand out brightly upon reflection. Barnes earned three Pro Bowl selections, contributed significantly to the Philadelphia Eagles’ 1960 NFL title triumph—an era just before the Super Bowl—and later served as a coach in professional ranks for eight years. His dual-sport prowess at the collegiate level earned him spots in two prestigious halls of fame.

Barnes passed away on Wednesday at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy as one of Wake Forest University’s most celebrated athletes.

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Billy Ray ‘Bullet’ Barnes who was a close personal friend of mine,” said Dr. Gene Hooks, the school’s former director of athletics. “He was a fierce competitor, a proud Demon Deacon, and someone who represented Wake Forest with class. Billy’s passion for the game and loyalty to this University left a lasting mark on all who knew him. He was a great football and baseball player who helped Wake Forest win the 1955 NCAA Championship. He is the most outstanding athlete who ever wore the Old Gold & Black in both sports.”

On the diamond, Barnes secured first-team All-ACC honors in both 1956 and 1957. Most memorably, he recorded the final out in the 1955 College World Series, securing Wake Forest’s victory—the inaugural national championship in any sport for an ACC institution and the program’s sole baseball crown to date.

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Barnes in the second round of the 1957 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a starter at halfback, playing every game in each of his first four seasons and earning Pro Bowl nods in his initial three years.

In December 1960, Barnes hauled in a touchdown reception during the Eagles’ decisive championship win over the Green Bay Packers, marking the lone postseason appearance of his playing days.

Following five productive years in Philadelphia, Barnes spent the 1962 and 1963 campaigns with the Washington franchise. A serious injury sidelined him entirely in 1964. He returned to the Eagles for 1965 but was soon traded to Minnesota, where he concluded his on-field career over the next two seasons from 1965 to 1966.

Upon hanging up his cleats, Barnes compiled career totals of 3,421 yards on the ground, 153 catches, and 39 scores across offense. He transitioned seamlessly into coaching, taking the head role with the Continental Football League’s Charleston Rockets in 1968.

The Rockets posted an 8-3 record under Barnes that year, but the organization ceased operations early in 1969. Barnes then returned to the NFL as an assistant, serving stints in New Orleans across 1969-70 and again in 1975, as well as with Atlanta from 1971 through 1974.

Eventually, he stepped away from football to rejoin the construction industry before settling into retirement in his hometown of Landis, North Carolina. His contributions were formally recognized with induction into the Wake Forest University Hall of Fame in 1975 and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.

Barnes’s nickname, “Bullet,” captured his explosive style on both the gridiron and the baseball field, where speed and determination defined his approach. His multifaceted career bridged eras of the sport, from college achievements that elevated Wake Forest’s profile to professional success that included a world championship.

Tributes pouring in from the Wake Forest community underscore the personal impact Barnes had beyond statistics. Former athletic director Hooks’s words reflect a shared sentiment: Barnes embodied the ideals of competition, loyalty, and grace that institutions hope their alumni exemplify.

In an age when two-sport stars at the highest levels have become rare, Barnes’s simultaneous excellence in football and baseball remains a benchmark at Wake Forest. His role in the 1955 baseball title, in particular, endures as a pinnacle moment in school history.

The 1960 NFL Championship game, often remembered for its defensive intensity, featured Barnes’s scoring catch as a key highlight in Philadelphia’s upset victory. That triumph provided a fitting capstone to his most prolific stretch with the Eagles.

Though injuries shortened his prime, Barnes’s resilience carried into coaching, where he continued shaping the game at professional levels across multiple organizations.

Retiring to North Carolina allowed Barnes to remain connected to his roots, a full-circle return for someone who rose from Depression-era challenges to national prominence.

His inductions into halls of fame decades ago affirmed what contemporaries already knew: Billy Ray Barnes represented the pinnacle of athletic achievement for both his university and his state.

As news of his passing spreads, stories of the “Bullet” serve as reminders of a bygone era when versatility, toughness, and character defined sporting greatness. His legacy endures in the record books, in the memories of teammates and fans, and in the ongoing pride of the Wake Forest community.