Chiefs’ Eric Berry makes NFL All-Pro team at safety

Eric Berry’s story got even more inspirational on Friday.

The Chiefs safety was chosen first-team All-Pro by The Associated Press for the second time in his career after missing a chunk of last season when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

This time a year ago Berry was undergoing chemotherapy.

“It’s an incredible honor. It means a lot to me,” Berry told The Associated Press. “Football’s a team game, so I have to give credit to those guys around me as well. We’ve been hungry from the get-go. I don’t know how to explain it, but I think you see it throughout our play. I think our play speaks for itself.”

The Chiefs take on the host Houston Texans in an AFC wild-card playoff game at 3:35 p.m. Saturday, and that’s been Berry’s focus.

“We’re supposed to be right here,” Berry said after practice earlier this week. “We said we were going to be right here, so, we’re here. And it’s just time to set out to do what we set out to do and we do that by one play at a time and one game at a time.”

Berry, who also was named All-Pro in 2013 was the lone Chiefs player selected to the first team.

Earning second-team honors were linebacker Derrick Johnson and rookie cornerback Marcus Peters.

Berry recorded 61 tackles with two interceptions and 10 passes defensed this season.

In a bit of an oddity, the Raiders’ Khalil Mack made the first-team defense at two spots, end and outside linebacker.

Texans’ defensive end J.J. Watt was a unanimous selection, as was Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.

The Carolina Panthers, who finished with the NFL’s best record at 15-1, had six players chosen to the first team, including quarterback Cam Newton.

One rookie make the team — Seattle Seahawks return specialist Tyler Lockett, the former Kansas State star.

Here’s the entire AP All-Pro team:

First-team offense

Quarterback: Cam Newton, Carolina

Running backs: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota; Doug Martin, Tampa Bay

Fullback: Mike Tolbert, Carolina

Tight end: Rob Gronkowski, New England

Wide receivers: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh; Julio Jones, Atlanta

Tackles: Joe Thomas, Cleveland; Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati

Guards: Marshal Yanda, Baltimore; David DeCastro, Pittsburgh

Center: Ryan Kalil, Carolina

Placekicker: Stephen Gostkowski, New England

Kick returner: Tyler Lockett, Seattle

First-team defense

Ends: J.J. Watt, Houston; Khalil Mack, Oakland

Tackles: Aaron Donald, St. Louis; Geno Atkins, Cincinnati

Outside linebackers: Von Miller, Denver; Khalil Mack, Oakland; Thomas Davis, Carolina

Inside linebacker: Luke Kuechly, Carolina; NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco

Cornerbacks: Josh Norman, Carolina; Patrick Peterson, Arizona

Safeties: Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona; Eric Berry, Chiefs

Punter: Johnny Hekker, St. Louis

Second-team offense

Quarterback: Carson Palmer, Arizona

Running backs: Todd Gurley, St. Louis; Devonta Freeman, Atlanta

Fullback: Pat DiMarco, Atlanta

Tight end: Greg Olsen, Carolina

Wide receivers: Brandon Marshall, N.Y. Jets; DeAndre Hopkins, Houston; Odell Beckham Jr., N.Y. Giants

Tackles: Tyron Smith, Dallas; Trent Williams, Washington

Guards: Josh Sitton, Green Bay; Mike Iupati, Arizona; Zach Martin, Dallas

Center: Travis Frederick, Dallas

Placekicker: Dan Bailey, Dallas

Kick returner: Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota

Second-team defense

Ends: Muhammad Wilkerson, N.Y. Jets; Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit

Tackles: Kawann Short, Carolina; Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia

Outside linebacker: Jamie Collins, New England

Inside linebackers: Bobby Wagner, Seattle; Derrick Johnson, Chiefs

Cornerbacks: Richard Sherman, Seattle; Chris Harris Jr., Denver; Marcus Peters, Chiefs

Safeties: Reggie Nelson, Cincinnati; Charles Woodson, Oakland

Punter: Sam Koch, Baltimore

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 1:53 PM with the headline "Chiefs’ Eric Berry makes NFL All-Pro team at safety."