Eric Berry

James Eric Berry (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.

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.

Berry was the anchor leg of the 2006 Class 4A state championship 4 × 400 meters relay team.

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.

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.

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 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.

As a freshman, Berry replaced fifth-year senior Jarod Parrish after a strong showing in his first collegiate game against California.

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.

His 222 return yards (on five interceptions) broke the 37-year-old Tennessee record by 43 yards.

Berry led all SEC freshmen in tackles with 86.

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

After the season, he was also named 1st team Freshman All-American by Rivals.

Prior to the season, despite being a sophomore, Berry was named a team captain.

For the year, Berry tied for the national lead in interceptions with seven and returned them for 265 yards and two touchdowns, breaking the record he set the year earlier.

Combined with the yards he accumulated as a freshman, Berry set the all-time career SEC record for interception return yards with 487 yards, only 14 yards shy of the NCAA record for interception return yards, set by Terrell Buckley during his time at Florida State.

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

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

In addition, he gained 32 yards on two kick-off returns.

His early success had some journalists speculating that he could end up being the best defensive player in Tennessee history.

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

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

He was also a unanimous first-team All American.

The Touchdown Club of Columbus also named him their winner of the 2008 Jack Tatum Award as well.

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.

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

He was later inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

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.

Berry played cornerback and quarterback, earning a 37–5 record as a starter at Creekside.

He was teammates with Rokevious Watkins and Terrance Parks.

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

Berry last played professionally in the 2018 NFL season.