Eric Berry: Kansas City Chief Faces Tough Road Ahead, May Have Lymphoma


Eric Berry, the Pro Bowl safety and Kansas City Chief may have lymphoma. Lymphoma is a type of cancer that attacks the immune system, called the lymph system. The Kansas City Chiefs placed Eric on a non-football injury list. Berry will not be playing football for the rest of the season.

However, more importantly, the 25-year-old faces a tough road ahead.

Following Thursday night’s game against the Oakland Raiders, Berry experienced discomfort in his chest. He reported his concern to the Chiefs. They found a mass in the right side of his chest. The Kansas City Star reports Eric Berry underwent tests in Kansas City, where a doctors made a preliminary diagnosis. The next few days, Berry will be evaluated at Emory University in Atlanta.

The Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid had this to say about the sad news.

“Right now, he needs to be a beast. He’ll attack this.”

Berry said the following in a statement to the press.

“I am truly thankful for all of the support from family, friends, coaches, teammates and the entire Chiefs kingdom. I believe that I am in God’s hands and I have great peace in that. I know my coaches and teammates will hold things down here the rest of the season and until I am back running out of the tunnel at Arrowhead. I am so thankful and appreciative of being a part of this franchise and playing in front of the best fans in the NFL. I will be back!”

The team’s trainer, Rick Burkholder, made the announcement about Eric possibly having lymphoma Monday afternoon. After the game against the Oakland Raiders, Adam Teicher, a reporter for ESPN NFL Nation, tweeted news about Berry’s chest discomfort concern.

Chiefs’ owner Clark Hunt was saddened and shocked when he heard the distressing news.

Hunt expressed his feelings to the Kansas City Star.

“Certainly when you’ve had somebody that’s been with you for a number of years — and I’ve had a chance to get to know him personally, he’s been such a leader for our football team — it probably does pull at the heartstrings a little bit more. But putting that aside, whether it’s an employee in the front office or somebody on the football field, when they’re going through a tough time like this, we want to be there to support them.”

Hunt said the Chiefs plan to explore a range of ways to support Berry, beyond what the organization has already done.

In 2010, Eric Berry was a first-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs. The football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs is also nicknamed “The Fifth Dimension.”

According to a report by Fox Sports, coach Reid said Eric Berry addressed the team about his condition on Monday.

[Photo courtesy of Bloguin]

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