The Kansas City Chiefs are taking on the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday Night Football, and there is an incredible story going somewhat under the radar. Free safety Eric Berry is making his home return after beating Hodgkin’s Lymphoma this offseason, something he was diagnosed with in late November.
Early on Thursday, Berry was surprised by a group of nurses from the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University at the team hotel, per USA Today.
The surprise was set up by Berry’s agent and his parents, who stood by his side throughout his chemo treatments. Berry has spoken often of the support his parents provided, from emotional lifts to his father continuously cooking his favorite meals to help him maintain weight during his treatments.
Berry is a three-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro who only makes Kansas City’s defense even scarier. The Chiefs drafted Berry with the fifth-overall pick in 2010 out of the University of Tennessee, and he immediately made an impact. Berry made the Pro Bowl and helped lead the Chiefs to an AFC West title. However, his 2011 season ended in the first quarter of the first game when he tore his ACL. Undeterred, Berry bounced back and went to the next two Pro Bowls, and in 2013 helped the Chiefs to an 11-5 record and wild card berth.
With Berry back in the lineup, many believe Kansas City has the chops to make a Super Bowl run. The Chiefs have not gone to the Super Bowl since 1969, when they pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NFL history, beating the Minnesota Vikings, 23-7.