NFL star, defensive juggernaut, Tennessee football legend -- the Kansas City Chief's star safety Eric Berry has plenty of titles under his belt, but one is particularly important for the VFL: cancer survivor.
Berry missed most of the 2014 season under the Chiefs after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Since then, he's beaten his cancer and returned to the field in style after receiving chemotherapy.
Off the field, Berry spends a lot of time visiting cancer patients young and old to give them hope and let them know they aren't alone in their fight.
On Wednesday, he came back to Knoxville to pay such a visit to patients and staff at the UT Medical Center Cancer Institute.
The visit has more than a singular purpose. Berry is also supporting "Tailgating Against Cancer," an East Tennessee nonprofit organization created to support those living with cancer and to help fund research.
The organization was founded in 2011 to honor Stephen York Coleman, a loyal Volunteer fan who lost his three-year battle to brain cancer at 37 years old.
Berry also attended the reception for Tailgating Against Cancer's Stephen Y. Coleman Memorial Golf Outing in downtown Maryville. The tournament will raise money to benefit the UT Medical Center Cancer Institute and begins Friday morning at Egwani Farms Golf Course.