Eric Berry

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

Berry played college football at the University of Tennessee, where he started in 39 games over three years. During his collegiate career, Berry earned All-American honors twice and received the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. He also won the Jack Tatum Award 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. Throughout his NFL career, Berry has been selected to three consecutive Pro Bowls to begin his career and named to the All-Pro team after his outstanding 2015 season.

Berry's resilience both on and off the field is noteworthy. Having been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2014, he underwent chemotherapy in the spring of 2015 and was declared cancer-free by July 2015. This triumph over adversity earned him the 2015 AP Comeback Player of the Year award. His influence and motivation are partly drawn from former Tennessee defensive back Inky Johnson, who suffered a career-ending injury.

Beyond the gridiron, Berry is active in motivational speaking, with topics focusing on cancer, motivation, overcoming adversity, personal growth, and sports. He is also the founder of the Eric Berry Foundation, which focuses on social impact and community support, further demonstrating his commitment to giving back to the community. Berry's journey and activities off the field are as inspiring as his athletic achievements, making him a figure of perseverance and determination.