John Holifield

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John Holifield
No. 40[1]
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born:(1964-07-14)July 14, 1964
Romulus, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:202 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:Romulus (Romulus, Michigan)
College:West Virginia
NFL draft:1987 / Round: 12 / Pick: 328[2]
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Johnathan Mark Holifield (born July 14, 1964) was an American football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at West Virginia.

Football career[edit]

High school[edit]

Holifield played high school football at Romulus High School in Romulus, Michigan.

College[edit]

Holifield arrived at West Virginia in 1983. During his first two seasons as a Mountaineer, 1983 and 1984, Holifield accumulated 388 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Holifield earned the starting running back job in 1984, as a junior. He rushed for 595 yards and 6 touchdowns, along with a receiving score, that season. In 1986, Holifield was elected team captain and totaled his best season statistically. He rushed for 645 yards and 3 touchdowns his final season as a Mountaineer.

Professional[edit]

Holifield was drafted in the 12th round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.[3] He was a member of the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals in 1988 and played 3 games for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1989 season. He was released in 1990.[4]

After football[edit]

Having received a bachelor's degree in political science in 1987, Holifield earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1996. He practiced law for five years, as a prosecutor in Cincinnati and in private practice by 1999. Afterwards, Holifield became involved in economic development.[4]

In 2006, Holifield became CEO of the Olmsted Parks Conservancy in Buffalo, New York.[5] In 2007, Holifield was picked to lead the Urban League of Greater Cleveland.[6][7]

On September 18, 2017, Holifield was named executive director of the White House initiative on historically black colleges and universities.[8][9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "John Holifield - The Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com.
  2. ^ "John Holifield College Stats - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  3. ^ "1987 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Furfari, Micki (October 27, 2015). "FURFARI COLUMN: John Holifield was fine running back at WVU in 1980s". Times West Virginian. Fairmont, West Virginia. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  5. ^ "Holifield takes parks position in Buffalo". Cincinnati Business Courier. May 30, 2006. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  6. ^ Fink, James (September 21, 2007). "Holifield leaving Buffalo". Buffalo Business First. Buffalo, New York. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  7. ^ "Former Bengal Holifield to head Urban League". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. Associated Press. September 22, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  8. ^ Berry, Deborah Barfield (September 18, 2017). "White House names Johnathan Holifield as head of HBCU project". USA Today. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  9. ^ Duster, Chandelis R. (September 18, 2017). "White House names former NFL player Johnathan Holifield HBCU initiative director". NBC News. Retrieved July 2, 2022.

External links[edit]