Eric Berry
James Eric Berry[1] (born December 29, 1988) is an American former football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL). He 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. He was then selected by the Kansas City Chiefs fifth overall in the 2010 NFL draft. Berry has been voted to the Pro Bowl five times and has been named to the First-team All-Pro three times. Berry last played professionally in the 2018 NFL season.
For other people named Eric Berry, see Eric Berry (disambiguation).No. 29
December 29, 1988
Fairburn, Georgia, U.S.
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
212 lb (96 kg)
Creekside (Fairburn, Georgia)
Tennessee (2007–2009)
2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5
440
440
5.5
14
3
50
5
Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in December 2014. After going through chemotherapy in the offseason and being declared cancer free, Berry came back for the 2015 season and was named to the Pro Bowl, the AP All-Pro team, and was named the 2015 AP Comeback Player of the Year. He was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He was later inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
Early years[edit]
Berry was born in Fairburn, Georgia. He attended Creekside High School in Fairburn, and was a standout athlete for the Seminole track and football teams.[2]
Berry played cornerback and quarterback, earning a 37–5 record as a starter at Creekside.[3] He was teammates with Rokevious Watkins and Terrance Parks. Following his stellar high school career, Berry was invited to play in the 2007 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Berry was considered the top player in Georgia and the top cornerback prospect by every recruiting service, and Rivals.com ranked him the #3 player in the nation.[3] He was once clocked at 4.36–4.41 range at the 40-yard dash at a soft indoor surface at a high school Combine.[4]
Berry was also a standout athlete for Creekside's track team. He set school records in long jump, with a leap of 6.95 meters, and 200 meters, with a time of 21.76 seconds.
Berry was the anchor leg of the 2006 Class 4A state championship 4 × 400 meters relay team. Individually, he was the 2005 Class 4A state champion in the 200 meters and 2007 Class 4A state champion in the Long Jump, beating future NFL players Brandon Boykin, 2nd and Stephen Hill, 3rd.
He had career-bests of 10.48 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.42 seconds in the 200 meters. He was regarded as the most scouted safety since Sean Taylor.[5]
Personal life[edit]
Berry's father, James, played running back for the University of Tennessee from 1978 to 1981, and was a captain of the 1981 squad.[3] Berry's younger brothers, twins Elliott and Evan, played football at Tennessee.[127] Berry is the first cousin once removed of former All-Pro Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Hugh Green.[128] Berry's uncle, Bernard Williams, played offensive tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs and Philadelphia Eagles, and is his mentor and business partner.[129]
On May 4, 2010, it was reported that Berry had signed an endorsement deal with Adidas.[130] He established the Eric Berry Foundation in 2011 that strives to provide safe environments for children to participate in team sports. His first project was a turf football field he funded in Fairburn, Georgia.[131] He also hosts annual youth football camps in Atlanta, Tennessee, and Kansas City with proceeds going to the Eric Berry Foundation.[132]
Berry suffers from equinophobia, a fear of horses. His condition was frequently brought on by the Kansas City Chiefs' mascot, Warpaint.[133]