Ray Jarvis, a former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver whose professional journey began in the Georgia capital, passed away on Aug. 3 at the age of 77.
He died in Waukesha, Wisconsin, according to his family, leaving behind a career that spanned nine NFL seasons and a lasting legacy rooted in his early days with the Falcons.
Born on February 2, 1949, in Chesapeake, Virginia, Jarvis first made his mark at Norfolk State University, where he starred as a deep threat from 1967 to 1970.
He finished his collegiate career with 2,211 receiving yards, a total that still ranks fourth in program history, and set a school single-season record by averaging 30.8 yards per reception in 1970. That explosive ability caught the attention of the Atlanta Falcons, who selected him in the fifth round of the 1971 NFL Draft with the 111th overall pick.
Jarvis spent the first two seasons of his professional career in Atlanta, appearing in six games for the Falcons between 1971 and 1972.
Though his statistical output in those early years remained limited—one reception for 18 yards and a 13-yard rushing attempt—he represented the kind of athletic, big-play prospect the franchise sought as it continued building in the early 1970s.
Those formative seasons in Atlanta marked the start of a nine-year NFL path that would later take him to the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and New England Patriots.
After leaving Atlanta, Jarvis found greater opportunity elsewhere, particularly during his five seasons with the Lions from 1974 to 1978.
His peak came in 1976, when he recorded career highs of 39 receptions, 822 yards, and five touchdowns. Over his full career he finished with 104 receptions for 1,832 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In 2023, Norfolk State inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame, recognizing the foundation he built long before his professional stops.
His wife, Ahdea Jarvis, shared a message of peace and remembrance following his passing, noting that he was no longer in pain or suffering.
Jarvis is remembered by those who followed his career as a player whose professional story began with the Falcons, a team that gave him his first opportunity in the NFL.
