Earl Holmes ranks in the all-time elite tier for linebackers — a career that places Holmes in the top 5% of all players at the position. The Knox value model assigns Holmes a career score of 71, reflecting sustained impact that most players at the position never approach.
Season totals or exact team stints. Career totals count each season once.
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Defense | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | |||||
| 1996 | 23 | PIT | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997 | 24 | PIT | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4.0 | 4.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998 | 25 | PIT | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999 | 26 | PIT | 16 | — | 85 | 59 | 26 | 10 | 0 | 0.0 | 10.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 27 | PIT | 16 | — | 97 | 56 | 41 | 9 | 0 | 1.0 | 10.0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 28 | PIT | 16 | — | 99 | 66 | 33 | 16 | 2 | 2.0 | 20.0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 29 | CLE | 16 | — | 106 | 74 | 32 | 9 | 0 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 30 | DET | 16 | — | 89 | 60 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 31 | DET | 16 | — | 100 | 67 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 32 | DET | 11 | — | 65 | 41 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career | — | 140 | — | 641 | 423 | 218 | 44 | 2 | 11.5 | 57.5 | 0 | 22 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Career Value · VORP
156 career value over replacement — #610 all-time of 4,695. 22.3/season above a replacement-level LB.
Pick #126 (Rd 4) · PIT · 1996 · +40.4 vs expected KV-H
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An all-time caliber linebacker (top 5% all-time) who combined elite production with exceptional availability — almost never missed time. Iron Legends define eras — they show up, every game, for years on end.
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Seasons above replacement
7 seasons × ~22.3 surplus ≈ VORP 156
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88% match