Terry was selected in the eleventh round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although he was considered undersized to play cornerback in the NFL he made up for it with his speed (he was timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash).[2] After making the Steelers' roster and playing the first six games of the season (primarily on special teams), he was cut to make room for another player.[3]
The Detroit Lions claimed Terry off waivers the next day.[4] On the opening kickoff of his fourth game with the Lions he suffered a chipped vertebrae in his neck and was placed on the injured reserve list, ending his season and eventually his playing career.[5]