Retirement – RB Priest Holmes Concludes Record-Setting NFL Career
Publication: KCChiefs.com
Date: November 21, 2007
Kansas City Chiefs three-time Pro Bowl RB Priest Holmes officially announced his retirement from the National Football League on Wednesday. Holmes concludes his illustrious playing career owning nine Chiefs career records and eight Chiefs single-season records. Arguably the most productive all-around offensive performer in the 48-year history of the franchise, Holmes walks away from the game as Kansas City’s all-time leader in rushing yards (6,070), rushing touchdowns (76) and total touchdowns (83). Holmes accumulated 8,172 career rushing yards in 11 seasons with Baltimore (’97-00) and Kansas City (2001-07), the highest total by any undrafted player since the AFL-NFL merger.
“I have truly been blessed with the opportunity to play in the National Football League,” Holmes commented. “I will be forever grateful to the Hunt Family and the Chiefs organization for the opportunity to come to Kansas City, where the community embraced me from day one. I have been humbled by the tremendous support that I have received from Chiefs fans over the years. I was grateful to be part of a Super Bowl team in Baltimore, but I will always fondly remember my time in Kansas City and the many great players and coaches that provided me an opportunity to be successful.”
“In the business of the NFL we are privileged to sometimes be in the presence of a magnificent athlete,” Chiefs President Carl Peterson stated. “We’re also privileged to sometimes be in the presence of a magnificent person. Priest Holmes exemplifies both individuals. Priest has given this organization all he could possibly give. He has been an outstanding player, teammate and contributor on and off the field. Thank you is never enough to a player like Priest Holmes. We, at the Chiefs, sincerely appreciate all his contributions to this franchise and wish he and his family the best. Priest Holmes will always be a Kansas City Chief.”
Holmes played in 65 regular season games with 63 starts for Kansas City. He was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press after producing 1,615 rushing yards in just 14 games in 2002. Holmes became just the third Chiefs player to lead the league in rushing when he racked up 1,555 yards during his debut campaign with Kansas City in 2001. In addition to his rushing exploits, Holmes also caught 246 passes for 2,360 yards (9.6 avg.) with seven TDs. He ranks first in team history with 1,521 touches from scrimmage and is second in team annals with 24 career 100-yard rushing games. He also started a postseason contest vs. Indianapolis (1/11/04), rushing 24 times and setting Chiefs single-game postseason records with 176 yards and two TDs. He finished the day with 208 combined net yards from scrimmage, the third-highest tally in Chiefs postseason history.
