Undrafted out of Texas in 1997, Priest Holmes broke through with a 1,008-yard rushing campaign for the Baltimore Ravens in 1998 before fading into a secondary role behind Jamal Lewis over the next two seasons. When Dick Vermeil brought the low-key running back to Kansas City in free agency before the 2001 season, few anticipated the statistical explosion about to unfold on Arrowhead turf.

Holmes took complete control of Kansas City's backfield during his debut 2001 campaign. Behind a physical offensive line anchored by Willie Roaf and Will Shields, his vision, patience, and sudden acceleration unleashed a career-defining run as he led the NFL with 1,555 rushing yards and 2,169 scrimmage yards, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and AP First-Team All-Pro nod.

That opening act was merely the prelude to one of the most absurd multi-year peaks by any running back in pro football history. In 2002, Holmes was named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league with a staggering 2,287 scrimmage yards and 21 rushing touchdowns across just 14 games. He followed that up in 2003 by shattering the single-season NFL record with 27 rushing touchdowns, accumulating 1,420 rushing yards and 74 receptions for his third consecutive First-Team All-Pro selection.

Holmes continued his torrid production into 2004, scoring 14 touchdowns in just eight games before a knee injury shelved him. Midway through the 2005 campaign, a spinal trauma collision cut short another dominant stretch. The neck injury sidelined him for the entire 2006 season; though he mounted a courageous comeback in late 2007, he appeared in just four games before retiring from the NFL.

Comparatively speaking, Holmes played far fewer games in Missouri than many long-tenured franchise icons, but his sheer statistical brilliance at the absolute peak of his craft earned him immortal status. He was formally enshrined in the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2014.  He overall accumulated 6,070 rushing yards, 76 rushing touchdowns, 251 receptions for 2,377 receiving yards, 8,447 total scrimmage yards, and 83 total touchdowns.