Priest Holmes

Priest Anthony Holmes is a retired professional football player. He was born on October 7, 1973 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Holmes went undrafted in the 1997 NFL Draft. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens in 1998, during which he rushed for over 1,000 yards, including a 200+ yard in a single game, the highest single game total of the season. In 2000, he shared his starting duties with Jamal Lewis and helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV.

Holmes signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2001, then had a major resurgence in his career. In his first season with the Chiefs, he rushed for 1,555 yards and 8 touchdowns as the league leader in rushing yards. In 2002, despite missing the final two games of the season, Holmes made 1,615 yards with 21 touchdowns as the league leader in rushing touchdowns. In 2003, he made 1420 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns again as the league leader in rushing touchdowns. In 2004, on a pace to repeat the feat of the previous seasons, he suffered an injury that ended his season with 14 touchdowns.

Professional Career

Baltimore Ravens

After graduating from college, he joined the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997. In the 1998 season with the Ravens, Holmes rushed for over 1,000 yards, including one 200-plus yard game, the highest single game total of the season. In the 2000 season, he was supplanted as a starter by rookie running back Jamal Lewis. The Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV with Holmes as the game's second string halfback.


Kansas City Chiefs

The following season, Holmes signed an inexpensive contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. In his first season with the Chiefs, he went beyond expectations by becoming the NFL's leading rusher with 1,555 yards for 2001 NFL season.

Despite missing the final two games in the 2002 NFL season because of a hip injury, Holmes rushed for 1,615 yards with 21 touchdowns. In the 2003 season, he broke Marshall Faulk's NFL record for total touchdowns in a season with 27, which was subsequently broken by Shaun Alexander with 28 total touchdowns in 2005 and later broken by LaDainian Tomlinson with 31 total touchdowns in 2006. Holmes and Emmitt Smith are the only two running backs in NFL history to have back to back seasons with 20 or more rushing touchdowns. On a pace to repeat the feat in 2004, he suffered an injury that ended his season with 14 touchdowns.

Holmes' 2005 season was also cut short by an injury to his spinal column from a tackle by Shawne Merriman on October 30, 2005. He was replaced for the season by backup Larry Johnson. During the following offseason, new coach Herm Edwards promoted Johnson to the starting position.

Holmes' spinal injury did not heal by the end of the 2006 preseason, and he was placed on the Chiefs' Physically Unable to Perform list for the season. Larry Johnson took over full-time as the Chiefs' starting running back.

Throughout the 2006 season, Holmes repeatedly said that he would like to return for at least two or three more seasons in the NFL, but that he would not force a comeback if it could be detrimental to his long term health.

Following encouraging medical tests, Holmes reported to the Chiefs' training camp in July 2007. However the Chiefs did not include him on the roster at the start of the season, listing him on the non-football injury list instead. Following a mid-season trade of Michael Bennett, Holmes returned to the Kansas City roster, beginning practice on October 17, 2007. Holmes then completed the comeback 4 days later, playing in the Chief's regular season game against the Oakland Raiders, carrying the ball 4 times. Priest made his first start since October 30, 2005 against the San Diego Chargers and played in a home game on November 11, 2007 in a 27-11 loss to the Denver Broncos. Holmes had 20 rushes for 65 yards.

Holmes announced his retirement on November 21, 2007 after re-injuring his neck on the previous Sunday, November 18, in a game vs. the Indianapolis Colts. At the time of his departure, Holmes held the Chiefs records for career rushing attempts (1,275), career rushing yards (5,933), career rushing touchdowns (76), and total touchdowns (83).

Priest Holmes #31 , 33
Running Back