Earl Holmes

NFL player

---

DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1973|4|28
Birthplace= Tallahassee, Florida
Position=Linebacker
College=Florida A&M
DraftedYear=1996
DraftedRound=4 / Pick 126
years=1996-2001
2002
2003-2005
teams=Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions
Stats=
NFL=
DatabaseFootball=HOLMEEAR01

Earl Holmes (born April 28, 1973) was an American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 4th round of the 1996 NFL Draft 126th overall out of Florida A&M University. While attending Florida A&M, Holmes became a member of the Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in the spring of 1994. Holmes was inducted into the FAMU Hall of Fame in July 2005 to join the likes of Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither and FAMU'S "Famed Final Four of 1952." [Official Athletic Site, Florida A&M, http://thefamurattlers.cstv.com/hallfame/famu-hallfame.html]

In his NFL career, Holmes has played for the Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Detroit Lions. Holmes, listed at 6'2' 242 lbs, garnered a reputation as a solid run stopping Middle Linebacker. He played his first 6 seasons in Pittsburgh where he totaled 547 tackles (392 solo), 9.5 sacks, a healthy 56 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 4 fumbles recovered, 21 pass deflections, and 1 interception for 36 yards in 81 games. In 2002 Holmes signed a free agent deal with the Cleveland Browns. He had one of his best seasons of his career by totaling 128 tackles(96 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 5 pass deflections in leading the Browns to a playoff berth. Holmes finished his career with three solid seasons for the Detroit Lions.

In his 10 year career he totaled 958 tackles (685 solos), 11.5 sacks, 89 tackles for loss, 6 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 29 pass deflections, and 1 interception for 36 yards in 140 games.

References