Berry, Eric

Category:
Inductees
Year Inducted:
2023
University:
University of Tennessee
Team:
Kansas City Chiefs

Biography

Eric Berry is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League for nine seasons. He was born on December 29, 1988, in Fairburn, Georgia, and attended Creekside High School in Fairburn. He then went on to play college football at the University of Tennessee.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Berry in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as one of the best safeties in the league, earning numerous awards and accolades. He is known for his versatility and ability to play both strong and free safety positions and his speed, agility and hard-hitting style of play.

During his time with the Chiefs, Berry was named to the Pro Bowl five times and First-Team All-Pro three times. He was also named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2015 after recovering from a battle with cancer that forced him to miss most of the 2014 season.

In addition to his cancer treatment, he also suffered a torn ACL in 2011 and a torn achilles tendon in 2017. Despite these injuries, he continued to play at a high level.

In addition to his success on the field, Berry is known for his work off the field. He is a passionate advocate for cancer research and has been involved in numerous charitable causes. In 2015 he was named the Chiefs’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Berry retired from the NFL in 2020.

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