66 Facts About Eric Berry

1.

James Eric Berry was born on December 29,1988 and is an American former football safety who played in the National Football League.

2.

Eric Berry played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, where he was a two-time unanimous All-American and recognized as the best collegiate defensive back in the country.

3.

Eric Berry was then drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs fifth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft.

4.

Eric Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma on December 8,2014.

5.

Eric Berry was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.

6.

Eric Berry attended Creekside High School in Fairburn, and was a standout athlete for the Seminole track and football teams.

7.

Eric Berry was teammates with Rokevious Watkins and Terrance Parks.

8.

Eric Berry was considered the top player in Georgia and the top cornerback prospect by every recruiting service, and Rivals.

9.

Eric Berry set school records in long jump, with a leap of 6.95 meters, and 200 meters, with a time of 21.76 seconds.

10.

Eric Berry had career-bests of 10.66 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.44 seconds in the 200 meters.

11.

Eric Berry was regarded as the most scouted safety since Sean Taylor.

12.

Eric Berry received many scholarship offers, but chose to attend the University of Tennessee, where he played from 2007 to 2009 under head coaches Phillip Fulmer and Lane Kiffin.

13.

Eric Berry turned in several big plays during his freshman season en route to being named the SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year by the Sporting News.

14.

Eric Berry twice was named SEC Freshman of the Week for his play over the regular season's final three games.

15.

Eric Berry finished the regular season with 72 tackles, six pass break-ups, and three sacks.

16.

Eric Berry took snaps on offense at quarterback and wide receiver, gaining 44 rushing yards on seven carries.

17.

Eric Berry was nominated as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, the Lott Trophy, and the Chuck Bednarik Award.

18.

Eric Berry was named the SEC Defensive Player of the year and was a first-team All-SEC pick.

19.

Eric Berry won the Jim Thorpe Award and was the recipient of The Touchdown Club of Columbus's Jack Tatum Award for the second straight year.

20.

Eric Berry attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, and performed all of the combine and positional drills.

21.

Eric Berry finished second among safeties in the 40-yard dash and fifth in the bench press.

22.

On March 16,2010, Eric Berry opted to participate in Tennessee's pro day but chose to stand on his combine numbers and only performed positional drills.

23.

Eric Berry was regarded as the highest scouted safety since Sean Taylor, whom Eric Berry idolized before Taylor's death, and was expected to be selected no lower than No 7, the Cleveland Browns pick.

24.

Eric Berry became the highest-drafted defensive back since Sean Taylor in 2004, and the highest-drafted Tennessee Volunteer since Jamal Lewis.

25.

Eric Berry selected number 29 as his jersey number in honor of former Tennessee defensive back standout Inky Johnson, whose career was cut short due to an injury, and as a tribute to his hometown of Fairburn, Georgia, and the main road US Route 29.

26.

Eric Berry entered training camp slated as the starting free safety.

27.

On December 26,2010, Eric Berry made four solo tackles, broke up a pass, and returned an interception for a 54-yard touchdown to mark the first score of his career.

28.

Eric Berry finished his rookie season with a career-high 92 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, four interceptions, two sacks, a touchdown, and a forced fumble in 16 games and 16 starts.

29.

Eric Berry led the team in interceptions, and was second only to Derrick Johnson in tackles and solo tackles.

30.

Eric Berry became the first Chiefs rookie to be selected to the Pro Bowl since linebacker Derrick Thomas.

31.

Eric Berry helped to improve the Kansas City defense from 29th best unit in the 2009 season in terms of points allowed to 11th in the 2010 season, In addition to starting every game, Eric Berry was on the field for almost half of Kansas City's special teams plays and was the only Chiefs defender to play every defensive snap.

32.

Eric Berry was ranked 93rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.

33.

Eric Berry returned to training camp in 2012 and reclaimed his role as the starting strong safety.

34.

On December 26,2012, Eric Berry was announced as one of six Chiefs players to be voted to the 2013 Pro Bowl.

35.

Eric Berry finished the 2012 season with 86 combined tackles, ten pass deflections, and an interception in 16 games and 16 starts.

36.

On December 27,2013, it was announced that Eric Berry was one of eight players from the Chiefs to be voted to the 2014 Pro Bowl, marking his third consecutive Pro Bowl.

37.

Eric Berry attained the second highest overall grade among safeties from Pro Football Focus in 2013.

38.

Eric Berry finished the season with 74 combined tackles, ten pass deflections, a career-high 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and two touchdowns in 15 games and 15 starts.

39.

Eric Berry was ranked 50th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014.

40.

Eric Berry remained the starting strong safety during training camp and was officially named the starter by defensive coordinator Bob Sutton for the season-opener, along with free safety Husain Abdullah.

41.

On September 14,2014, Eric Berry sustained a high ankle sprain against the Denver Broncos and was sidelined for five consecutive games.

42.

Eric Berry was placed on the Chiefs' non-football illness list, ending his 2014 season.

43.

The goal of Mr Eric Berry's treatment is to cure his lymphoma and we are beginning that treatment now.

44.

On July 28,2015, the Kansas City Chiefs announced that Eric Berry had been cleared to resume football activities and was declared clear of cancer nearly nine months after his initial diagnosis.

45.

On December 24,2015, the Kansas City Chiefs announced that Eric Berry was one of five Chiefs players to be voted to the 2016 Pro Bowl.

46.

Eric Berry finished the 2015 season with 61 combined tackles, ten pass deflections, and two interceptions in 16 games and 15 starts.

47.

Eric Berry received the fourth highest coverage grade among safeties.

48.

Eric Berry was named Comeback Player of the Year and was ranked 55th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

49.

Eric Berry decided to hold out of training camp and offseason activities in the hopes of receiving a long-term contract offer by the Chiefs.

50.

In Week 13, Eric Berry made two solo tackles, broke up a pass, returned an interception for a 37-yard touchdown, and became the first player to return an interception for a defensive two-point conversion.

51.

Eric Berry earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Falcons.

52.

On December 20,2016, it was announced that Eric Berry was one of four Chiefs players voted to the 2017 Pro Bowl, marking his fifth Pro Bowl selection of his career.

53.

Eric Berry finished the season with 77 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, four interceptions, a forced fumble, and two touchdowns in 16 games and 16 starts.

54.

Eric Berry received an overall grade of 87.8 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked seventh among all safeties in 2016.

55.

Eric Berry received the fourth highest coverage grade among his position group and fifth highest run defense grade.

56.

Eric Berry was ranked 13th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017 as the highest ranked defensive back.

57.

Eric Berry remained the starting strong safety, opposite Ron Parker, to start the regular season.

58.

Eric Berry finished his season with seven combined tackles in one game and one start.

59.

Eric Berry missed the first 13 games before making his season debut in Week 15.

60.

On March 13,2019, Eric Berry was released by the Chiefs, in order to avoid a portion of his salary being fully guaranteed.

61.

Eric Berry's father, James, played running back for the University of Tennessee from 1978 to 1981, and was a captain of the 1981 squad.

62.

Eric Berry is the first cousin once removed of former All-Pro Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Hugh Green.

63.

On May 4,2010, it was reported that Eric Berry had signed an endorsement deal with Adidas.

64.

Eric Berry established the Eric Berry Foundation in 2011 that strives to provide safe environments for children to participate in team sports.

65.

Eric Berry's first project was a turf football field he funded in Fairburn, Georgia.

66.

Eric Berry's condition was frequently brought on by the Kansas City Chiefs' mascot, Warpaint.