James Eric Berry (born December 29, 1988) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, earning unanimous All-American honors twice and recognition as the best collegiate defensive back in the country. Berry was selected by the Chiefs fifth overall in the 2010 NFL draft. He was voted to the Pro Bowl five times and named first-team All-Pro three times.
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. After signing a six-year, $78 million contract, Berry ruptured his Achilles and missed most of the 2017 and 2018 seasons, leading to his release from the Chiefs. Berry was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He was later inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023, and the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2025.
Early life 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. 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 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.
College career 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.
2007 season 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.
2008 season
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.2011 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, p. 12 (2011). Retrieved June 30, 2012. The Touchdown Club of Columbus also named him their winner of the 2008 Jack Tatum Award as well.
2009 season As a junior, Berry recorded 87 total tackles, two interceptions, nine passes defensed, and one fumble recovery. Following the season, Berry was a first-team All-SEC selection, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American for the second consecutive season. He won the Jim Thorpe Award and also was the recipient of The Touchdown Club of Columbus's Jack Tatum Award for the second straight year.
At the conclusion of the 2009 season, Berry announced his intention to enter the 2010 NFL draft.
Professional career Pre-draft Following Tennessee's 37–14 loss to Virginia Tech in the 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl, Berry announced his decision to forgo his final year of college football eligibility, entering the 2010 NFL draft. He attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, and performed all of the combine and positional drills. Berry finished second among safeties in the 40-yard dash and fifth in the bench press. On March 16, 2010, Berry opted to participate in Tennessee's pro day but chose to stand on his combine numbers and only performed positional drills.
Berry was regarded as the highest scouted safety since Sean Taylor, whom Berry idolized before Taylor's death, and was expected to be selected no lower than No. 7, the Cleveland Browns pick. NFL draft experts and scouts projected him to be a first-round pick and a possible top ten selection. He was ranked as the top safety prospect in the draft by NFL analyst Mike Mayock, DraftScout.com, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated.
2010 The Kansas City Chiefs selected Berry in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2010 NFL draft. He became the highest-drafted defensive back since Sean Taylor in 2004, and the highest-drafted Tennessee Volunteer since Jamal Lewis. 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 also as a tribute to his hometown of Fairburn, Georgia, and the main road U.S. Route 29.
On July 30, 2010, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Berry to a six-year, $60 million contract that included $34 million guaranteed and made him the highest-paid safety in league history.
He entered training camp slated as the starting free safety. Head coach Todd Haley named him the starter, alongside starting strong safety Jon McGraw, to start the 2010 regular season.
He made his professional regular-season debut and his first career start in the Kansas City Chiefs' season-opener against the San Diego Chargers and recorded his first career tackle on tight end Antonio Gates after he caught an 11-yard pass in the first quarter of their 21–14 victory. He finished his debut with six combined tackles. On October 24, 2010, Berry recorded four solo tackles, two pass deflections, forced a fumble and made his first career interception off a pass by quarterback Todd Bouman during a 42–20 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The following week, he made a season-high ten combined tackles (seven solo), deflected a pass, and intercepted a pass by Ryan Fitzpatrick in their 13–10 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills. In Week 9, he recorded four combined tackles and a season-high two sacks on quarterback Jason Campbell in the Chiefs' 23–20 overtime victory at the Oakland Raiders. It marked Berry's first career sack. On December 26, 2010, 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. His interception was off a pass by quarterback Kerry Collins that was originally intended for Nate Washington and occurred in the second quarter of their 34–14 victory against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16. He finished his rookie season with a career-high 92 combined tackles (77 solo), nine pass deflections, four interceptions, two sacks, a touchdown, and a forced fumble in 16 games and 16 starts. He led the team in interceptions (4), and was second only to Derrick Johnson in tackles and solo tackles.
On January 24, 2011, it was reported that Berry would play in the 2011 Pro Bowl as a replacement for Troy Polamalu, who was appearing in the AFC Championship with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He became the first Chiefs rookie to be selected to the Pro Bowl since linebacker Derrick Thomas. 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, 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.
The Kansas City Chiefs finished first in the AFC West with a 10–6 record. On January 9, 2011, Berry recorded ten combined tackles and a season-high four pass deflections during a 30–7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card Round. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. He was ranked 93rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.
2011 Berry started the Kansas City Chiefs' season-opener against the Buffalo Bills, but sustained a torn ACL on the Bills' second offensive drive during the first quarter of their 41–7 loss. He sustained the injury during a seven-yard run by C. J. Spiller and went down untouched while attempting to switch direction in pursuit of him. On September 14, the Kansas City Chiefs officially placed him on injured reserve prematurely ending his second season before he recorded a stat. On September 29, 2011, he underwent surgery to repair the torn ligament. Throughout the season, Jon McGraw replaced Berry in the lineup. On December 13, 2011, the Kansas City Chiefs fired head coach Todd Haley after they stood at a 5–8 record. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel was named interim head coach for the last three games.
2012 Berry returned to training camp in 2012 and reclaimed his role as the starting strong safety. Head coach Romeo Crennel named Berry and Lewis the starting safety duo to begin the regular season.
On November 1, 2012, Berry recorded eight combined tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by Philip Rivers during a 31–13 loss at the San Diego Chargers. In Week 11, he collected a season-high 11 solo tackles in the Chiefs' 28–6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. On December 16, 2012, Berry tied his season-high of 11 solo tackles and broke up a pass in their 15–0 loss at the Oakland Raiders. On December 26, 2012, Berry was announced as one of six Chiefs players to be voted to the 2013 Pro Bowl. On December 31, 2012, the Kansas City Chiefs fired head coach Romeo Crennel after they finished with a 2–14 record. He finished the season with 86 combined tackles (73 solo), ten pass deflections, and an interception in 16 games and 16 starts.
2013 New head coach Andy Reid retained Berry and Lewis as the starting safeties to begin 2013.