Priest Holmes

Priest Anthony Holmes was born on October 7, 1973, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was raised in San Antonio, Texas, by his mother and stepfather. Holmes developed his football skills at John Marshall High School, where he rushed for over 2,000 yards as a senior in 1991, leading his team to a state championship runner-up finish. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin, playing for the Texas Longhorns from 1992 to 1996. During his college career, he accumulated 1,276 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, including being named MVP of the 1994 Sun Bowl after a 161-yard, four-touchdown performance. A significant collegiate achievement was his contribution to Texas’s upset victory over Nebraska in the inaugural Big 12 Championship Game.

Homes began his professional career in the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 1997. After four seasons with the Ravens, where he rushed for over 2,000 yards and was part of the Super Bowl XXXV championship team in 2000, Holmes signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2001. His time with the Chiefs marked a period of significant individual success, leading the NFL in rushing yards in 2001 with 1,555 yards. He followed this with a 1,615-yard, 21-touchdown season in 2002, earning him the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. In 2003, Holmes set a new NFL record for total touchdowns in a season with 27.

Holmes’s career was impacted by injuries, notably a spinal column injury in 2005, which led to his retirement in 2007 after a brief return attempt. He concluded his career as the Chiefs’ all-time leader in career rushing touchdowns (76) and total touchdowns (83). In recognition of his contributions, Holmes was inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor and the Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, and later into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2014. Post-retirement, Holmes remains involved with his foundation, dedicated to educational initiatives for children.