Earl Holmes Madden Career 1998-2006 - Peak 89 OVR

Steelers fans called him 'The Hit Man,' and Earl Holmes earned it in the middle of Pittsburgh's defense after arriving as a fourth-round pick from Florida A&M in 1996, where he became the school's all-time leading tackler. He was a downhill run-stopper who stacked up 958 tackles and 11.5 sacks over ten seasons. He started for the Steelers through 2001, then had his biggest statistical year in Cleveland in 2002 with 128 tackles, and closed out his career with three seasons in Detroit.

Madden respected the production. Holmes came in at 86 in the 2000 edition, already an established starter, and peaked at 89 in both the 2002 and 2003 editions around his move to the Browns. The card stayed in the high 80s through the 2005 game before he retired and went back to Florida A&M, eventually as head coach.