The Philadelphia Eagles are mourning the passing of one of the most important figures in franchise history. Former Pro Bowl running back and two-sport standout Billy Ray “Bullet” Barnes died Wednesday at the age of 90.

Born in rural North Carolina in 1935 during the Great Depression, Barnes rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most accomplished athletes Wake Forest University has ever produced. A rare two-sport star, he excelled in both football and baseball before embarking on a memorable professional career.

Barnes was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 1957 NFL Draft and immediately made his presence felt. He started all 12 games at halfback in each of his first four seasons in Philadelphia and earned Pro Bowl honors in three of his first years in the league.

His impact reached its peak during the 1960 season, when he played a key role in helping the Eagles capture the NFL Championship, the franchise’s last league title before the Super Bowl era. Barnes caught a touchdown pass in Philadelphia’s championship victory over the Green Bay Packers, the only playoff game of his professional career.

Following his time with the Eagles, Barnes spent two seasons in Washington before injuries wiped out his 1964 campaign. He later returned briefly to Philadelphia before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings, where he finished his playing career during the 1965 and 1966 seasons.

Barnes retired with 3,421 rushing yards, 153 receptions, and 39 total touchdowns. He transitioned seamlessly into coaching, serving as head coach of the Continental Football League’s Charleston Rockets in 1968 before later holding assistant coaching roles in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons.

Beyond football, Barnes left an equally lasting mark in baseball. He was a first-team All-ACC selection in 1956 and 1957 and recorded the final out of the 1955 College World Series, securing Wake Forest’s first NCAA championship in any sport. That title remains the school’s only baseball national championship to this day.

Barnes’ legacy earned him induction into both the Wake Forest University Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, cementing his status as one of the most decorated athletes in the school’s history.

Remembered as a fierce competitor, a proud Demon Deacon, and a champion at every level, Billy Ray Barnes leaves behind a legacy that will forever be woven into the history of the Philadelphia Eagles and college athletics alike.