#8 Most Memorable Sports Moment of 2015

Photo Credit: USATSINFL

This is my favorite sports moment of 2015.  Last season, football fans around the world were devastated to learn that 27-year-old Eric Berry, starting safety for the Kansas City Chiefs, had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  An MRI revealed a mass in his chest and he immediately underwent  chemotherapy as treatment.  Berry felt a pain in his chest after a game against the Oakland Raiders that lingered for a few days that led to him getting the MRI that possibly saved his life.  After the diagnosis, he vowed to beat cancer get back on the football field, saying, ”I will embrace this process and attack it the same way I do everything else in life. God has more than prepared me for it.”

Photo Credit: Twitter

#BerryStrong became a movement across the NFL, starting with Chiefs LB Justin Houston revealing a #29 t-shirt, Berry’s number, under his jersey after getting a sack in the team’s game against the Steelers.  It was not until OTAs that we received positive news from head coach Andy Reid saying Berry was “doing really well”.  On June 22nd, Berry was officially declared cancer-free.  It was not an easy process, but he had beaten a monster that had tried to take him too early. He admitted that throughout chemotherapy continued to work out despite feeling sick. He attributes it to “taking it one day at a time” and setting small goals for himself such as competing five pushups a day.

Over a month later, Berry was finally able to rejoin his teammates for minicamp.  Just eight months after being diagnosed with cancer, Berry was back on the field leading defensive back drills.  Of course, Berry had to pass physical tests which included the safety squatting 325 pounds five times and bench pressing 275 pounds five times.  In comparison, safeties at this year’s NFL Combine bench pressed on average 225 pounds.

While, it was an incredible miracle the Berry beat cancer and was able to participate in practice drills, the true memorable moment came when he got to run out of the tunnel for the first time since his diagnosis. For their first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals Berry was named team captain and walked to midfield for the coin toss.  It was an emotional moment for everyone, but especially Berry and his mother who was on the sideline.  In a statement released via ESPN writer Adam Teicher, Berry explained the emotions in that moment,

It just all hit me.  I don’t think anyone can really understand the road I took, the sacrifices I had to make, the feelings I had going through those times, just to be able to experience the things I mentioned to you at the beginning. You take the little things, and you appreciate everything about the game and everything that surrounds the game. It’s a blessing to be out here, and I’m going to take full advantage of the opportunity I have.

Almost nine months after being diagnosed, Berry returned to the field for his first regular season game.  He has had a great season with two interceptions and 40 tackles on the year.  The Chiefs are headed back to the playoffs with Berry leading the way showing what true strength looks like!