Priest Holmes is a former American football player who played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was born on October 7, 1973, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. Holmes attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he played college football for the Texas Longhorns from 1992 to 1996.
Holmes began his professional football career in 1997 when he signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent. He played for the Ravens for four seasons, from 1997 to 2000, and was primarily used as a backup running back. In 2001, Holmes signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent and became the team's starting running back.
Holmes had a breakout season in 2001, rushing for 1,555 yards and scoring eight touchdowns. He followed that up with an even better season in 2002, rushing for 1,615 yards and scoring 24 touchdowns, which set an NFL record for most touchdowns in a single season. Holmes continued to be a dominant force for the Chiefs over the next few seasons, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each season from 2001 to 2003 and scoring a total of 83 touchdowns during that span.
Injuries began to take a toll on Holmes in 2004, and he missed several games due to various ailments. He still managed to rush for 892 yards and score 14 touchdowns that season. In 2005, Holmes suffered a severe neck injury that forced him to miss the entire season. He attempted to make a comeback in 2006 but suffered another injury that ended his season after only four games.
Holmes officially retired from the NFL in 2008, finishing his career with 8,172 rushing yards, 86 rushing touchdowns, and 2,962 receiving yards. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2002.
Off the field, Holmes has been involved in various charitable endeavors, including the Priest Holmes Foundation, which provides educational opportunities for underprivileged children. He has also been inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame.
In conclusion, Priest Holmes was a dominant running back in the NFL during his career, particularly during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite suffering several injuries that cut his career short, he still managed to leave a lasting impact on the league and is remembered as one of the best running backs of his era.
🏈