Sept. 25, 2015; Kansas City, MO: Chiefs safety Eric Berry during pregame introductions against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. (Chris Neal/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Safety Eric Berry headlines a list of five Chiefs players, including four on defense, heading to the Pro Bowl, as announced Tuesday night by the NFL.
Berry joins outside linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, and rookie cornerback Marcus Peters on defense.
The lone offensive player for the Chiefs is tight end tight end Travis Kelce, who makes his first appearance.
Berry makes a fourth career Pro Bowl appearance and currently ranks third on the Chiefs with 58 tackles, adding two interceptions and eight passes defensed. His remarkable comeback continues a year removed from being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma and then being declared free of cancer in June.
Berry returned in time for training camp and has appeared in 14 games with 13 starts.
Houston, who hasn’t played since suffering a hyperextended knee injury in Week 12, will also make a fourth Pro Bowl appearance. He currently leads the Chiefs in sacks with 7 ½, adding two interception with one returned for a touchdown.
Hali, who makes his fifth straight Pro Bowl, has started all 14 games this season, totaling 48 tackles (39 solo), 18 quarterback pressures and two forced fumbles.
Peters has exploded on the scene in his rookie season, leading the Chiefs with seven interceptions for 234 yards, including two picks returned for a touchdown, and passes defensed (23). He is tied with Berry in tackles with 58.
The rookie cornerback ranks among the leaders in the NFL in interceptions (second), interception yards (first) and passes defensed (second). The 23 passes defensed and seven interceptions are tied for second all-time among Chiefs rookies.
Kelce, who is in his third year, has 65 catches for 822 yards and four touchdowns. Kelce’s 822 yards receiving ranks fifth among tight ends around the NFL.
Meanwhile, inside linebacker Derrick Johnson is noticeably missing from the list of Pro Bowl selectees announced by the NFL.
Johnson, who returned from a ruptured Achilles tendon, leads the Chiefs in tackles with 100 (81 solo). He also has four sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and seven passes defensed.
The Pro Bowl will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu on Jan. 31, 2016.
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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