Tennessee Vols legend Eric Berry's case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Tennessee Vols legend Eric Berry is eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024. Berry, who was a standout player for the Vols from 2007 to 2009, was a first-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2010 NFL Draft. The former Tennessee standout appeared to be on a first-ballot […]
Tennessee Vols legend Eric Berry is eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.
Berry, who was a standout player for the Vols from 2007 to 2009, was a first-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2010 NFL Draft.
The former Tennessee standout appeared to be on a first-ballot Hall of Fame career trajectory before a cancer diagnosis and a torn Achilles robbed Berry of several of his prime seasons.
Berry, however, still had a decorated career in the NFL. But will it be enough to get the former Vol into the Hall of Fame?
There are currently 14 safeties in the Hall of Fame (per ProFootballHOF.com).
Here's Berry's résumé, which we'll compare to some recent inductees.
Eric Berry (2010-2018): 5-time Pro Bowler, 3-time First-Team All Pro, 2015 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, PFWA All-Rookie Team. 445 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, 14 interceptions, 5 defensive touchdowns
Steve Atwater (1989-1999): 2-time Super Bowl champion, 8-time Pro-Bowler, 2-time First-Team All Pro, Second-Team All Pro, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, PWFA All-Rookie Team, 1,188 total tackles, 24 interceptions, 5 sacks, 1 defensive touchdown
LeRoy Butler (1990-2001): Super Bowl champion, 4-time Pro Bowler, 4-time First-Team All-Pro, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, 889 total tackles, 38 interceptions, 20.5 sacks, 3 defensive touchdowns
Brian Dawkins (1996-2011): 9-time Pro Bowler, 4-time First-Team All Pro, Second-Team All Pro, NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, 1,147 total tackles, 37 interceptions, 26 sacks, 3 defensive touchdowns
Kenny Easley (1981-1987): NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 5-time Pro Bowler, 4-time First-Team All Pro, Second-Team All Pro, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, PFWA All-Rookie Team, 538 total tackles, 32 interceptions, 8 sacks, 3 defensive touchdowns
John Lynch (1993-2007): Super Bowl champion, 9-time Pro Bowler, 2-time First-Team All Pro, 2-time Second-Team All Pro, 1,059 total tackles, 26 interceptions, 13 sacks, 0 defensive touchdowns.
Troy Polamalu (2003-2014): 2-time Super Bowl champion, NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 8-time Pro Bowler, 4-time First-Team All Pro, 2-time Second-Team All Pro, NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, 783 total tackles, 32 interceptions, 12 sacks, 5 defensive touchdowns
Ed Reed (2002-2013): Super Bowl champion, NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 9-time Pro Bowler, 5-time First-Team All Pro, 3-time Second-Team All Pro, NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, PFWA All-Rookie Team, 646 total tackles, 64 interceptions, 6 sacks, 9 defensive touchdowns
Based on those résumé, it's probably going to be tough for Berry to get into the Hall of Fame. I don't think there's any doubt that Berry is a Hall of Fame-caliber player. And if he wouldn't have been robbed of four total seasons during the prime of his career, then he'd no doubt first-ball Hall of Famer (not to mention that Berry was forced to retire at just 30 years old).
Perhaps the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee will look at the type of impact Berry made when he was on the field instead of his numbers (which again, would be much more impressive if not for the time he had to miss during his career).
Berry has an outside shot to get in, but it almost certainly won't happen in his first year of eligibility. Tennessee fans might have to wait a while to see if the former Vol eventually gets voted in.
The big secret about Tennessee in 2023 that no one in college football is talking about
There’s a big secret about the Tennessee Vols in 2023 that no one in college football is talking about
Featured image via SAUL YOUNG, Knoxville News Sentinel, Knoxville News Sentinel
