Berry grew up in Odessa, Texas, and played football at Permian High School.[1] He was also on the 1964 basketball team, the first in program history to win the district championship, as well as the baseball team.[2][3]
Berry played college football for the Houston in 1965, 1966 and in 1968. He missed the 1967 season due to injury.[4][5]
NFL career
He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round (161st overall) of the 1969 AFL/NFL Common Draft.[6] In his sophomore season of 1970, he started all 14 games as a defensive end, most notably the first-ever Bengals-Cleveland Browns matchup in which Berry scooped up a fumble and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown.[7]
In 1974, he played in 13 games, starting one. He was on injured reserve with a broken wrist and did not see action for the Bengals in 1975.[9] Berry served as defensive captain for six seasons.[10]
In May, 1976, Berry was traded to the Chicago Bears.[10] Berry returned for one more NFL season, his eighth, in 1976 with the Chicago Bears, for whom he played in 12 games, starting two.[11] He was waived by the Bears just prior to the 1977 season.[12]
