Longtime Lions Wide Receiver Ray Jarvis Dies at 77
A wide receiver honored by his college's Hall of Fame who had his best seasons with the Lions in the 1970s passed away.
Ray Jarvis, a legendary wide receiver for Norfolk State and nine seasons in the NFL, passed away on August 3 at the age of 77 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. In the 1975 and 1976 seasons, Jarvis led the Norfolk State Lions in receiving, recording 29 receptions for 501 yards and four touchdowns in 1975 and 39 receptions for 822 yards and five touchdowns in 1976.
He earned the team's offensive MVP in 1976, setting a new single-season record with 26.1 yards per catch, which still stands as the Norfolk State record more than half a century later. Jarvis was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 1971 NFL Draft and spent six games with the team before joining the Buffalo Bills in 1974.
He played 12 games with the Bills but only caught one pass. Jarvis found his greatest success in Detroit, where he spent five seasons (1974-78) before retiring in 1979. Over his career, Jarvis amassed 104 catches for 1,832 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2023, Norfolk State honored Jarvis by inducting him into the university's Athletics Hall of Fame, recognizing his record-breaking performances and nine-year NFL career.
In retirement, Jarvis was among former NFL players seeking compensation through the league's concussion settlement, reflecting the difficulties faced by many older retirees navigating the claims process. His wife, Ahdea, confirmed in a social media post that Jarvis was in hospice care due to symptoms related to Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Jarvis leaves behind Ahdea, daughters Rahdea and Shani, and five siblings.
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