1. Priest Anthony Holmes was born on October 7,1973 and is an American former professional football player who was a running back for 11 seasons in the National Football League.
28 Facts About Priest Holmes
1. 2.
Priest Holmes started his career with the Baltimore Ravens but experienced breakout success after signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent in 2001.
3.
Priest Holmes rushed for just over 2,000 yards in four seasons in Baltimore.
4.
Priest Holmes sat out the 2006 season with a neck injury, and after a brief comeback attempt in 2007, he retired from the NFL.
5.
Priest Holmes was inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor and the Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
6.
Priest Holmes was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2014.
7.
Priest Holmes was raised in San Antonio, Texas, by his mother Norma, and stepfather Herman Morris.
8.
Priest Holmes was raised in a military household as his stepfather was an aircraft technician at Kelly Air Force Base for 20 years.
9.
When he was 13, Priest Holmes spent a summer in Detroit, Michigan, working for his grandfather's lawn care service.
10.
Priest Holmes, who had idolized Dallas Cowboys' running back Tony Dorsett growing up, developed his own elusive running style while playing street football with the children in his neighborhood.
11.
Priest Holmes later attended John Marshall High School, where he became a starter for head coach David Visentine.
12.
Priest Holmes attended the University of Texas at Austin from 1992 to 1996, playing the entire time for John Mackovic.
13.
Priest Holmes played in the final seven games of his freshman season, Mackovic's first as head coach, rushing for 114 yards against Houston.
14.
Priest Holmes rushed for 524 yards and five touchdowns, and was named MVP of the 1994 Sun Bowl after rushing for 161 yards and four touchdowns in a win against North Carolina.
15.
Priest Holmes missed the 1995 season with a knee injury, allowing for the emergence of future Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams as the starter.
16.
Priest Holmes rushed for a career total of 1,276 yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
17.
Priest Holmes spent his entire rookie season as the Baltimore Ravens' fourth-string running back, behind Bam Morris, Earnest Byner, and Jay Graham.
18.
Priest Holmes appeared in seven games as a rookie in 1997.
19.
Priest Holmes finished with 89 carries for 506 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with 13 receptions for 104 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
20.
In 2001, Priest Holmes signed an inexpensive contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
21.
Priest Holmes was replaced for the season by backup Larry Johnson.
22.
Michael Bennett was traded at mid-season, and Priest Holmes returned to the Kansas City roster, beginning practice on October 17,2007.
23.
Priest Holmes then completed the comeback four days later, playing in the Chiefs regular season game against the Oakland Raiders, carrying the ball four times.
24.
Priest Holmes announced his retirement on November 21,2007, after re-injuring his neck on the previous Sunday, November 18, in a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
25.
Priest Holmes retired as the Chiefs' all-time leader for career rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, and career rushing yards.
26.
Priest Holmes's rushing yards record has since been broken by Jamaal Charles.
27.
Priest Holmes has been a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame nine times as of 2023, but has never advanced to a semi-finalist.
28.
The Priest Holmes Foundation is a recognized organization that is committed to encouraging education and enhancing the lives of children in the community.