5. Eric Berry
Nobody means more to the Chiefs than Eric Berry. After being drafted with the fifth-overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, Berry quickly became a fan favorite for his style (and level) of play. The former Tennessee Volunteer made the Pro Bowl his rookie season and helped spark a surprising AFC West title.
After making two more Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team between 2011-13, Berry found out that he had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Dec. 2014, putting both his career and life in jeopardy. Incredibly, Berry beat cancer by the time training camp rolled around last summer and proceeded not to miss a single practice through both camp and the regular season.
Berry played all 16 regular-season games last year and both in the postseason, nabbing three interceptions. The 27-year-old played the best football of his career, earning Comeback Player of the Year honors along with being named a First-Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler. Recently, Berry was named to NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2016 list, coming in at No. 55.
While Berry might not be the most valuable player on Kansas City in terms of position and impact on a play-to-play basis, nobody means more to the heart and soul. Combining his leadership with the ability to dominate a game, he is one o the best players the NFL has to offer.
Next: No. 4