Eric Berry

Eric Berry is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League.

Berry played college football at Tennessee, where he started in 39 games over a three-year period. While there, Berry earned All-American honors twice and received the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. He was also named Jack Tatum Award winner as the best defensive back in college football and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the year in 2008.

Berry was drafted by the Chiefs fifth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. Since signing with the Chiefs, Berry has appeared in 54 games (53 starts) and recorded 323 tackles (253 solo), 5.5 sacks (-37.5), eight interceptions, 35 passes defensed, 12 quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Berry was selected to his third Pro Bowl following the 2013 season. His other trips to the NFL’s annual all-star game came following his rookie year (2010) and after the 2012 season. In addition, Berry was named first-team All-Pro following the 2013 season, the first All-Pro defensive player since for Kansas City since LB Derrick Johnson.

Berry was named to the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) All-NFL Team following the 2013 season, joining RB Jamaal Charles and PR Dexter McCluster. He was also named a team captain for the defense in a vote by teammates for the 2013 postseason, joining LB Derrick Johnson (defense); QB Alex Smith and RB Jamaal Charles (offense); and P Dustin Colquitt and S Husain Abdullah (special teams).

During a game against the Oakland Raiders on November 20, 2014, Berry began to complain of chest pain. A mass was soon discovered in his chest and he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the immune system. Berry was placed on the Chiefs'non-football illness list, ending his season.

On July 28, 2015, the Chiefs announced through their official Twitter account that Berry was deemed cancer-free and was able to resume football activities.

The Kansas City Chiefs finished second in the AFC West that year with an 11–5 record. He was named Comeback Player of the Year and was ranked 55th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.