He played in the NFL for eight seasons, seven with the Steelers, but also with the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints.
Since retiring, Perry has served as a defensive backs and safeties coach at the professional level with the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, and Green Bay Packers and the Vegas Vipers of the XFL.
Perry attended Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he played football, basketball and tennis.
[2] Perry appeared on the cover of the November 26, 1990 issue of Sports Illustrated following Penn State's defeat of top-ranked Notre Dame.
Largely unheralded, the 5'11", 200 lb (91 kg) free safety started from his first game as a rookie.
Perry was a member of the 1995 AFC Champion Steelers that nearly upset the heavily favored Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX.
[9] In 1997, the Pittsburgh Chapter of Pro Football Writers of America selected Perry as the recipient of "The Chief" Award, given annually to the Steeler who best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation with the media.
[10] Perry spent the 2002 season as the Cincinnati Bengals' safeties coach under his former defensive coordinator, Dick LeBeau.
The Green Bay Packers hired Perry as their safeties coach on February 3, 2009, and he remained on their staff through the 2017 season.
[18] In 2007, Perry and Keith Goganious, a fellow Penn State and NFL player, helped revive the Hampton Roads Football Camp after a 12-year hiatus.
[18] On August 27, 2022, Perry was given the 2021 Presidential Volunteer Lifetime of Achievement Award for his outstanding service to the community.