Eric Berry is embedded in hearts of Chiefs Kingdom forever

Veteran star safety Eric Berry was released by the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday afternoon, an announcement that most felt was inevitable.

The Kansas City Chiefs recently did something that most knew was inevitable but didn’t want to believe: they released Eric Berry. Berry is more than just a normal player. When he put on that uniform, No. 29, it meant something more. It meant something to the players and coaching staff, but most importantly, the fans.

Nine years ago, the Chiefs went 4-12 in the 2009 NFL season, which was an improvement from the 2-12 record they amassed in the previous 2008 season. It is often said that everything happens for a reason. Every little thing that goes wrong, everything that goes right—it all happens for a reason. Perhaps the Chiefs’ years of turmoil was for a reason, and that reason was Eric James Berry.

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Following the club’s disastrous 4-12 season in 2009, they had the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, a pick that would be well spent on Berry, a star safety out of Tennessee. Berry helped the Chiefs improve to a 10-6 record, earning them first place in the AFC West and a trip to the playoffs, albeit one that ended in a loss in the Wild Card round against the Baltimore Ravens. Something happened that season, though. Berry’s Pro Bowl performance—in which he garnered 92 total tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 4 interceptions—paved the way for a career that would not only define who he was as a player, but who he was as a person.

Seeing Berry going through so much on and off the field as a Chief drew fans closer to the man off the field, who, at the time he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, was already an elite player. Players like Justin Houston honored Berry on every sack by lifting his jersey up to reveal the number 29, Berry’s jersey number, and formed praying hands to the sky in honor of his teammate.

Even while battling cancer, Berry and his agent released a video in which the former said that he would come back “better than ever,” which just so happened to be true. In the year following Berry’s return after beating cancer, he put together the most memorable season of his career. In the 2015 NFL season, Berry earned Pro Bowl, First-team All-Pro, and NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors, which were all well more than deserved. This video showcases what Berry meant to the fans.

Beyond that moment, Berry had so many memorable moments in his days with the franchise. Most fans will remember the pick-two against the Atlanta Falcons or his pick-six against the Carolina Panthers that saw the Chiefs come back for a victory. Each of us likely have a favorite that we can name instantly when asked.

Emotions ran high as the news broke of Berry’s release from the team. When you think of Eric Berry, you think of the Kansas City Chiefs. The two are synonymous. Even though fans knew it was for the best going forward for the franchise—the NFL is a business, after all—it still hurts. It stings knowing that next season No. 29 will not be on the field or in the locker room. It hurts knowing that we will never again hear Chiefs broadcaster Mitch Holthus call Berry’s name as he picks off an opposing quarterback.

One thing is for sure though: Berry will always be a Chief. He will go down in history as one of the best players at the safety position for the Chiefs, and is almost certainly guaranteed a trip to the team’s Hall of Fame. Everyone wants to be remembered for something. Berry will be remembered as a community leader, an All-Pro, and a hero to us all.