Eric Berry (AP file)
Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry returned to the practice field on Wednesday after announcing the day before that he was free of cancer.
Berry, an NFL first-team All-Pro in 2013, is just eight months removed from being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The former Jim Thorpe Award recipient has been cleared to engage in team activities.
“It was to the point where I had to set goals of getting out of bed,” Berry told reporters during a formal press conference on Wednesday.
“It was a tough process but I had a great support system. I had my mom and dad in the trenches with me, day-in and day-out.”
The former Tennessee Volunteer (2007-09) has made quite a name for himself at safety at both the collegiate and professional level.
During his tenure at UT, Berry was a constant across several yearly award lists. He earned NCAA All-America honors in 2008 and 2009, and was even named to the Sports Illustrated’s All-Decade team in 2009.
Similar success has come at the pro level, too. Berry earned Pro Bowl honors in his first three seasons (2010-13).
By Chuck Kingsbury — Special for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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