Cherry was a free safety and punter at Rutgers University, intercepting a total of 9 passes over his three seasons, which he returned for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
In 1981, he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent but was released in the final teams cuts.
[4] Regarded as one of the best free safeties to have ever played the game, he was a six-time Pro Bowl selection from 1983 to 1988, starting in five of them in his 11 years with the Chiefs.
[6] He is actively involved in several civic organizations, including Special Olympics, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Project Warmth, Score 1 for Health, Camp Quality USA, and the United Negro College Fund.
In 2019, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Cherry to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2019.