Priest Holmes Priest Anthony Holmes ( born October 7 , 1973 ) is a former American football running back who played eleven seasons in the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of Texas . He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997 . Holmes earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV . After rushing for just over 2 , 000 yards in four seasons in Baltimore , Holmes experienced breakout success after signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent in 2001 . During his seven - year stint with the Chiefs , Holmes was a three - time All - Pro , three - time Pro Bowl selection and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2002 . Holmes sat out the 2006 season with a neck injury , and after a brief comeback attempt in 2007 retired from the NFL . Holmes was also inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor , and the Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 . Early life . Priest Anthony Holmes was born in Fort Smith , Arkansas . Although he carries the last name of his biological father , he never met the man , only seeing him for the first time at his funeral . He was raised in San Antonio , Texas by his mother Norma , and stepfather Herman Morris . When he was thirteen years old , Holmes spent a summer in Detroit , Michigan , working for his grandfather ' s lawn care service . Working with much older men for twelve hours a day , six days a week , Holmes learned the work ethic that later shaped him as a football player . Amateur career . High school . 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 . Holmes would later attend Marshall High School , where he became a starter for Head Coach David Visentine . As a senior in 1991 , Holmes rushed for 2 , 061 yards and 26 touchdowns . He was named Offensive Player of the Year , and led his team to a runner - up finish in the state championship game , losing to Odessa Permian . College . Holmes attended the University of Texas from 1992 to 1996 , playing the entire time for John Mackovic . He played in the final seven games of his freshman season , Mackovic ' s first as head coach , rushing for 114 yards against Houston . After starting two games and averaging over five yards per carry for the second straight season as a sophomore , Holmes received more significant playing time as a junior . He rushed for 524 yards and five touchdowns , and was named MVP of the Sun Bowl after rushing for 161 yards and four touchdowns in a win against North Carolina . Holmes missed the 1995 season with a knee injury , allowing for the emergence of future Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams as the starter . Relegated to third string behind Williams and Shon Mitchell , Holmes scored thirteen touchdowns despite carrying the ball only 59 times . Holmes ' biggest moment came in the inaugural Big 12 Championship Game . Entering the game with a 7 - 4 record against third - ranked Nebraska , Texas upset the Cornhuskers 37 - 27 , with Holmes rushing for 120 yards and three touchdowns . In Holmes ' final two seasons , Texas posted a record of 16 - 9 , finishing ranked in the Top 25 each season . He rushed for a career total of 1276 yards and 20 touchdowns , averaging 5 . 1 yards per carry . Professional career . Baltimore Ravens . After graduating from college , he joined 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 becoming the only undrafted player to do so , until Arian Foster accomplished the feat during the 2010 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 Foundation . The Priest Holmes Foundation is a recognized organization that is committed to encouraging education and enhancing the lives of children in the community . In 2009 , the Foundation awarded 19 scholarships for the first time to San Antonio area high school seniors . The Holmes Family resides in San Antonio , Texas .