The Kansas City Chiefs have released star safety Eric Berry, ending his nine-year run with the franchise after an injury-plagued season.
On Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs put an end to an incredible era of football for the team with the release of franchise icon and star safety Eric Berry.
The decision could not have been an easy one, emotionally speaking, given how much Berry has meant to the team and its fan base over the years. His courageous posture and victory over cancer and his ability to return better than ever from numerous injuries have given him legendary status—not only in Kansas City but around the NFL.
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Unfortunately, the last two injury-plagued seasons have also kept him from furthering that legacy, which has made this an easier decision for general manager Brett Veach when it comes to the business side of things. Berry played a single game in 2017 before tearing his Achilles tendon, forcing him to miss the rest of the season. Even after successfully rehabbing from that injury, a sore heel and bone spur caused him to miss the majority of 2018. Even months later the season is over, Berry still isn’t fully healed.
Moving forward, the team will now turn to Tyrann Mathieu to be the new star safety and anchor a secondary that has been completely remade from the one inherited by Veach only two years ago.
If Berry can return healthy to the field, he will be a nice addition for any team in need of strong leadership and dynamic play in the secondary. When healthy, Berry is peerless at his position and, if not for injury, it was likely that the Hall of Fame would come calling one day in Canton, Ohio, As it stands, Berry will undoubtedly enter the Chiefs Hall of Fame one day when he decides to end his career.
Berry started 87 career games with the Chiefs, earning five Pro Bowl appearances and an NFL Comeback Player of the Year award,