Santonio Holmes facts for kids
Holmes in 2019
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| Central State Marauders | |||||||
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| Position: | Wide receivers coach | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | March 3, 1984 Belle Glade, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 192 lb (87 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Glades Central (Belle Glade, Florida) |
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| College: | Ohio State (2002–2005) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 25 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Santonio Holmes Jr. (born March 3, 1984) is a former American football player. He played as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Santonio is now a wide receivers coach for Central State University.
The Pittsburgh Steelers chose him in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. Before that, he played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. In 2009, Holmes was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Super Bowl XLIII. The Steelers won that game against the Arizona Cardinals, and Holmes caught the winning touchdown. In 2010, Holmes was traded to the New York Jets. He also played one season for the Chicago Bears.
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Early Life and Sports Talents
Santonio Holmes went to Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, Florida. He was a talented athlete in many sports. He earned "letterman" honors in football, basketball, and track.
In football, he helped his team win two state championships. During his senior year, his team had an amazing 12–1 record. In basketball, he helped his team reach the state championship game as a senior. In track, his team won the state title when he was a junior. He was also part of a 4x400 meter relay team that won two state titles. Santonio graduated from high school in 2002 with a good 3.4 grade point average.
College Football Career
Holmes attended Ohio State University. He was a "redshirt" player in 2002, meaning he practiced but didn't play in games. That year, the Buckeyes won the National Championship.
During his college career, Holmes caught 140 passes for 2,295 yards. He also scored 25 touchdowns. He gained a total of 3,123 all-purpose yards. His 140 career receptions and 3,496 yards were among the top five in Ohio State history at the time. His 25 touchdown catches ranked him third in the NCAA.
Professional Football Journey
Santonio Holmes decided to leave college a year early. The Pittsburgh Steelers picked him in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. He was the 25th player chosen overall. The Steelers traded up to get him, making him the first wide receiver they picked in the first round since Plaxico Burress.
Playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Starting Out in 2006
When Holmes first joined the Steelers, he wore number 10. In his first season, he was sometimes criticized for fumbling when returning kicks. However, he showed his great skills as a receiver. He earned "Rookie of the Week" honors in Week 6. This was for his performance against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Later in the season, Holmes became a starter. He finished the 2006 season with 49 catches for 824 yards and 2 touchdowns. His most exciting play was in the last game of the season. In overtime against the Cincinnati Bengals, he caught a pass and ran 67 yards for a touchdown. This secured a win for the Steelers. He also returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers.
Breakout Season in 2007
In 2007, Holmes became the Steelers' main starting receiver. He had a fantastic season, leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns. He became known as one of the best players for long passes in the NFL. In Week 1, he caught a 40-yard touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns.
In Week 4, he had one of his best games against the Arizona Cardinals. He caught 6 passes for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns. In Week 9, he scored two more touchdowns against the Baltimore Ravens. He finished the year with 942 receiving yards and 8 touchdown catches. He also led the league in yards per catch. In his first playoff game, he caught a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Super Bowl Champion in 2008
Holmes worked hard in the offseason to get stronger for the 2008 season. He wanted to play in all 16 games. He started the season strong with good catches against the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns. He scored his first touchdown of the season in an overtime win against the Baltimore Ravens.
Even though his overall statistics were a bit lower than in 2007, Holmes still made many important plays. He helped the Steelers offense in key moments.
The biggest moment came in Super Bowl XLIII. Holmes caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger with only 35 seconds left. This amazing catch secured the Steelers' sixth Super Bowl win, which was an NFL record. Holmes caught nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown in that game. He caught four passes for 73 yards on the final game-winning drive alone. He was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the sixth wide receiver to win this award.
Top Receiver in 2009
The 2009 season was Santonio Holmes' best year for statistics. He had 79 catches for 1,248 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He became the Steelers' top receiver. This was surprisingly his last year with the team.
Time with the New York Jets
Joining the Jets in 2010
On April 11, 2010, Holmes was traded to the New York Jets. The Steelers received a fifth-round draft pick in return. Before the trade, the NFL announced that Holmes would miss the first four games of the season.
After his four-game absence, Holmes returned to practice on October 6, 2010. He was allowed to attend team meetings and work out during his time away from playing.
On November 14, 2010, Holmes caught a game-winning touchdown pass in overtime against the Cleveland Browns. This gave the Jets a 26–20 victory. The very next week, on November 21, 2010, Holmes caught another game-winning touchdown from Mark Sanchez. This helped the Jets beat the Houston Texans 30–27.
In the 2010–2011 playoffs, Holmes scored a touchdown in both the Divisional Round and the AFC Championship game. The Jets eventually lost to Holmes' former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Other players ranked him 76th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011 list.
Captain in 2011
Holmes signed a new five-year contract with the Jets before the 2011 season. He was named one of the team captains, along with quarterback Mark Sanchez. In the final game of the 2011 season, Holmes was benched for the rest of the game after an argument. The Jets lost the game and missed the playoffs.
Holmes finished the season with 51 catches and 654 receiving yards. These were some of the lowest totals of his career. However, he did set a new career high with eight touchdown catches.
Injuries and Departure
In 2012, Holmes suffered a serious foot injury in Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers. This injury ended his season, and he was placed on injured reserve.
In 2013, Holmes worked hard to recover from his foot surgery. He returned to the active roster in August 2013. In the 2013 season, he played in 11 games. He had 23 catches for 456 yards and one touchdown. The Jets released Holmes on March 10, 2014.
Short Time with the Chicago Bears
Holmes signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears on August 16, 2014. He played in nine games for the Bears. He had eight catches for 67 yards. The Bears released him on November 11, 2014.
Retirement from Football
After being out of the league for almost three years, Santonio Holmes returned to the Steelers on October 10, 2017. He had a retirement ceremony there. He said it was an honor to retire as a Steeler and leave a legacy that everyone would remember.
Images for kids
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Santonio Holmes with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006.
See also
In Spanish: Santonio Holmes para niños
