Priest Holmes MVP Season

Lore & Background

Holmes joined the Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent in 2001 after spending his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, and led the NFL in rushing in his first season with Kansas City—becoming the first undrafted player to do so since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. In 2002, despite missing the final two games with a hip injury, he rushed for 1,615 yards and 21 touchdowns, adding three receiving touchdowns for 24 total scores. He set a record for most total touchdowns by a player on a team that missed the playoffs. In 2003, he broke Marshall Faulk's NFL record for total touchdowns in a season with 27.

In Their Own Story

The cold air of late November bit at the sidelines of Arrowhead Stadium, but inside the huddle, Priest Holmes was burning hot. The crowd roared, a deafening wall of sound that seemed to vibrate through his cleats. As the ball snapped, he took it low and hard, feeling the familiar weight of the leather against his palm. He didn't hesitate; he hit the hole with the force of a freight train, breaking two tackles before the world blurred into motion. In that moment, there was no doubt—he wasn't just running for yards; he was running for history.

Reader's Guide

Holmes was the first Chiefs running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons (2001–2003). He retired as the Chiefs' all-time leader in career rushing touchdowns (76), total touchdowns (83), and career rushing yards (6,070). His rushing yards record has since been broken by Jamaal Charles, and Travis Kelce later broke his franchise record for total touchdowns.

Did You Know?

• Holmes was the first undrafted player to lead the NFL in rushing since the AFL-NFL merger (1970).
• He, Emmitt Smith, and LaDainian Tomlinson are the only running backs in NFL history with back-to-back seasons of 20 or more rushing touchdowns.
• Holmes was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2014.