NFL star Eric Berry played in his hometown of Atlanta on AnticipationSunday for the first time since becoming the fifth overall pick of the 2010 draft. The Kansas City Chiefs safety returned an interception for a touchdown, then gave the ball to his mother in the stands immediately after scoring to help his team to a big late-season win.
That's quite the inspirational homecoming in itself -- but only the beginning of this story.
The last time Berry went home to Atlanta during an NFL season, you see, it was to receive chemotherapy.
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"I shed a few tears before the game, I shed a few during the game and I shed a few after," Berry said following Kansas City's 29-28 win. "So I think I held it together pretty good."
Berry starred in college for the University of Tennessee before the Chiefs selected him fifth in the 2010 NFL Draft. He immediately became a star in the NFL as well, making the Pro Bowl in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
But during the 2014 season, Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 25.
He returned home to Atlanta to undergo treatment, including chemotherapy, at Emory University Hospital.
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Doctors at Emory were able to rid Berry's body of cancer. He returned to the Chiefs last year. In his first season back, Berry helped the Chiefs to the playoffs and was again selected for the Pro Bowl. He was also named the league's Comeback Player of the Year.
But Berry had never played an NFL game against his hometown Atlanta Falcons -- until this Sunday, that is, when the Chiefs traveled to the Peach State. So what did Berry do during his big homecoming?
Just before halftime, Berry intercepted Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan near midfield. Then he wound his way over to the left sideline, outrunning would-be tacklers for 37 yards and tidily scampering into the endzone for six points.
After scoring, Berry found his mom in the stands and gave her the game-ball.
Here's video, but keep reading after you watch it -- Berry wasn't done there.
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In the fourth quarter, Berry picked Ryan off againand ran it back to the end-zone againto win the game for Kansas City. After that touchdown, according to The Kansas City Star, Berry gave the ball to his dad.
So, just to recap here: Playing a game in his hometown for the first time ever, a cancer-surviving NFL player returned not one but two interceptions for scores. Then he honored his parents after each highlight-reel play.
After the game, Berry reflected on all his parents had helped him through.
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"So many nights I just was crying on their shoulder and trying to make sense of everything that was going on," Berry told reporters. "They just kept telling me, you know, just 'Keep pressing, keep pressing. You'll be back. You'll be able to play the game the way you want to play the game.'"
On Sunday, Berry did just that.
