Sept. 17, 2015; Kansas City, MO: Chiefs safety Eric Berry points to the sky as he enters the field prior to Thursday night’s home opener against the Denver Broncos. (Chris Neal/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Pro Football Writers of America on Friday named Chiefs free safety Eric Berry as the 2015 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Berry, who returned to football cancer-free less than a year after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, went on to appear in all 16 games with 15 starts.
The sixth-year pro finished the regular season with 61 tackles (55 solo), a total ranked as the third-most on the Chiefs’ defense.
He added two interceptions and 10 passes defensed as a key contributor on a defensive unit that ranked ninth in the league against the pass.
The recognition has piled up for Berry, who earlier in the week was named All-NFL and All-AFC by the PFWA. He also earned a first-team All-Pro selection by The Associated Press was voted to the Pro Bowl.
Berry isn’t the only Chiefs player to be recognized the PFWA, which is comprised of accredited writers who cover the NFL and its teams on a daily basis, in the past week.
The organization on Monday named inside linebacker Derrick Johnson and rookie cornerback Marcus Peters to the All-AFC team.
Peters, whom the Chiefs selected with a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, was named the PFWA’s 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The standout cornerback also made the All-Rookie team with center Mitch Morse, the Chiefs’ second-round draft pick.
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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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