By Robert H. Kelly
(Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications)
BEAUMONT, TEXAS (January 18, 2008) Ernie Holmes, a key member of Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense in the 1970s, was killed on Thursday when his car went off a Texas highway and rolled over several times.
Police stated Holmes, 59, who played alongside Mean Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, Andy Russell and Dwight White was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene about 20 miles north of Beaumont in southeastern Texas.
Holmes was a two-time All Pro drafted by the Steelers in 1971 after playing at Texas Southern. He played 81 games for the Steelers from 1972 through 1977 and finished his career with the New England Patriots.
Holmes, who attended Texas Southern University in Houston, was an ordained minister living on a ranch near Wiergate, Texas at the time of his death.
"Ernie was one of the toughest players to ever wear a Steelers uniform," club chairman Dan Rooney said in a statement. "He will be missed by the entire Steelers family."
Teammate Jack Ham remembered Holmes as a great player. “That run we had in ‘74 and through the playoffs and our first Super Bowl, he just had a dominating performance, especially against Gene Upshaw and the Raiders in Oakland in the AFC championship game. I think they rushed for 29 yards in that game. It was the most dominating performance against a great offensive line. He’s a big reason why we ended up winning that game.”
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