For the first time, a beloved Kansas City Chiefs defender has been selected as a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2025.
Former Chiefs S Eric Berry was selected among 167 modern-era nominees. It’s his first time selected as a nominee, but technically not his first year of eligibility. Berry hasn’t formally retired, but his five-year waiting period expired after last playing football in 2018.
The former No. 5 overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft out of the University of Tennessee has a special place in Chiefs lore. The hard-hitting safety had an NFL career filled with hurdles, but he was one of the best defensive secondary players in football for some time. Berry was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023, but it’s quite tough to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, especially in your first year nominated.
Making the case for Eric Berry as a Pro Football Hall of Famer
Berry made the 2010s All-Decade Teaam, which usually gives players a leg up on the competition. He also has a solid list of accolades, including three First-team All-Pro selections in 2013, 2015, and 2016 and five Pro Bowl nods in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016. He was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2016 after defeating cancer (Hodgkin’s lymphoma). That alone should give him some credence among voters because it’s rare that players can overcome such a major illness and return to play the game at a high level. His resume also happens to stack up fairly well against some recent Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees.
Twice in his career (2013 and 2016) he tied for the NFL lead in interceptions returned for touchdowns with two. His career stats include 445 total tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 51 passes defended, 14 interceptions and five interceptions returned for touchdowns. He also had a two-point conversion attempt he returned in 2016 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Where Eric Berry falls short for Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement
I’d say the two largest challenges that Berry will face are longevity and playoff success.
Berry only appeared in 89 career regular season games. Between injuries and the time lost due to cancer, Berry played a full 16-game season just four times during his nine-year NFL career. Berry appeared in six career playoff games with the Chiefs and the team had a 1-5 record during that span. He produced 42 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, a forced fumble, and six passes defended in those games.
Here are the other former Chiefs nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Including Berry, 16 former Chiefs players among the 167 modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This doesn’t include the seven former Chiefs players who were nominated as a part of the senior category.
Here’s the full list:
QB Rich Gannon, RB Jamaal Charles, RB Priest Holmes, FB Tony Richardson, RB Thomas Jones, WR/RS Dante Hall, WR Andre Rison, WR Joe Horn, C Dave Szott, OG Brian Waters, DE Jared Allen, DE Neil Smith, DE Leslie O’Neal, LB Terrell Suggs, LB Mike Vrabel, and LB Donnie Edwards.
You can find out more about each player in our 2023 write-ups.
