Pair of Tennessee Vols named to NFL's all-decade team
The NFL announced its all-decade team for the 2010s on Monday and two Tennessee Vols were included. Safety Eric Berry and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson were the two Vols who made the team. Berry, who played at Tennessee from 2007-2009, was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 5 overall pick in the […]
The NFL announced its all-decade team for the 2010s on Monday and two Tennessee Vols were included.
Safety Eric Berry and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson were the two Vols who made the team.
Berry, who played at Tennessee from 2007-2009, was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
The former Vol was named to five Pro-Bowls and three All-Pro teams from 2010-2016. In December, 2014, Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Berry missed the rest of the 2014 season, but he was declared clear of cancer in July, 2015.
Berry was named the NFL comeback player of the year in 2015 after playing in all 16 games for the Chiefs.
The Atlanta native continued his incredible recovery by playing in all 16 games in 2016 and reaching the Pro-Bowl.
Adversity, however, struck Berry again. In 2017, Berry missed 15 games due to an achilles injury suffered in week one. In 2018, Berry missed 14 games due to issues with bone spurs.
Berry was released by the Chiefs in 2019, but it was recently reported that he plans to return to the NFL in 2020.
Patterson, the other Vol named to the NFL's all-decade team, only played one season at Tennessee (2012).
The South Carolina native was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 29 overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Patterson has spent time with the Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. During his seven seasons in the NFL, Patterson has reached three Pro-Bowls and been named a first team All-Pro member on three occasions.
The former Vol has scored 24 total touchdowns in his NFL career, including seven as a returner.
Patterson was the first NFL player to ever have a 100 yard kickoff return touchdown, a 75 yard touchdown catch, and a 50 yard rushing touchdown in the same season (2013). Patterson also holds the Vikings career record for special teams touchdowns (5, which he shares with Marcus Sherels).
Featured image via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports/Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
