Deron Cherry

Vocation

Lifestyle

Notable

Traits

American football player, ranked as one of the finest free safeties to ever play football. During his NFL career, he played with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Washington Redskins and the Detroit Lions. Born and raised in New Jersey, Cherry attended Rutgers where he co-captained the Scarlet Knights in 1980, and was inducted into the Rutgers Football Hall of Fame. On 5/04/1981, he debuted with the NFL, as a free safety and defensive back for the Kansas City Chiefs. In the late 1980s, with an annual salary of $850,000, he became the NFL’s highest-paid defensive back. During a highly successful 11-year career, he went to the Pro Bowl six times, and in 1996, he was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs’ Hall of Fame. After retirement from football, he took control of his own financial destiny, becoming involved in the ownership of several businesses, such as All Pro Ford and United Beverage Company. Additionally, he became one of the first African-Americans to co-own a professional football team, the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL. Cherry was a recipient of the Byron White Humanitarian Award for outstanding service to his team, his community and his country. He strongly believes he has been given a great gift in his life, that of being able to fulfill his dream to play pro football, and as a result, he works hard to give something back to those who are less fortunate. He is involved in the affairs of his community as well as in charities such as Special Olympics, and developed the "Score One for Health" program for the community’s school districts. His program emphasizes a healthy start in life so that a strong education can be laid upon this foundation. An intelligent man, Cherry truly cares about others. Link to Wikipedia biography