He played college football for the Washington Huskies in Seattle, winning the Pac-10 Morris Trophy and earning All-American honors in 1984. After leading the Huskies to a victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, Holmes left the school with the all team record in career sacks (28) and sacks in a game (5).[1] Holmes was selected in the first round with the eighth overall pick in the 1985 NFL draft by Tampa Bay.[2] He spent four years with the Bucs before moving on to Denver in 1989 and playing four seasons for the Broncos.[3]
Holmes ranked second on the Broncos in 1989 with 9 sacks and started in Super Bowl XXIV. He was considered to have Pro Bowl talent, but his development was slowed by injuries.[4]
Holmes was inducted into the UW Husky Hall of Fame in 2001. At age 48, he died in 2011 in Dupont, Washington.[5]