The Associated Press handed out the 2015 Comeback Player of the Year Award at Saturday's NFL Honors program, and it should surprise nobody that Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry took home the award. Berry faced competition from San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer.
Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in December 2014. He was immediately placed on the NFI list and saw his season ended. He immediately began chemotherapy, and continued working out through the process. He came out of that ready for the 2015 season, and put together his second All-Pro season. Not too shabby.
It would have been nice to see NaVorro Bowman win, but I am not stunned he did not beat out Berry. In any other year, Bowman or Palmer would have won. Bowman suffered his devastating knee injury back in January 2014. He missed the 2014 season rehabbing the injury, and came back in a big way in 2015. He led the NFL in tackles, and was named to the All Pro and Pro Bowl teams. There were stretches where he seemed a step off, but he showed enough throughout the season that we can be excited about what he will bring to the field another year removed from the injury.
Congrats to Eric Berry on an inspiring comeback.