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Santonio Holmes

WR (retired)

Santonio Holmes: facts drawn from the play-by-play.

FanIQ Research · May 10, 2026 · 6 facts, every one from the play-by-play

Super Bowl XLIII MVP on a 6-yard tiptoe TD with 35 seconds left — one of the iconic catches in NFL history.

Milestone

Career resume

Stat	Value
Career receptions	396
Career receiving yards	6,125
Career receiving TDs	37
Super Bowl MVP	XLIII (PIT)
Best season	2009 (79 rec, 1,248 yds)
Career seasons	9

4 years in PIT (2006-2009), 4 years in NYJ (2010-2013), 1 year in CHI (2014) — career derailed by injury after age 28.

Trend

Holmes tenure by team

Team	Years	Seasons	Receptions
PIT	2006-2009	4	238
NYJ	2010-2013	4	150
CHI	2014	1	8

Caught the SB-winning TD AND was the leading receiver in the AFC Championship that same postseason.

Rare

Holmes 2008 PIT playoff run

Game	Receptions	Yards	TDs
Wild Card vs SD	6	67	1
Divisional vs SD	5	50	0
AFC Champ vs BAL	5	68	1
SB XLIII vs ARI	9	131	1 (MVP)

2009 was his career year (79 rec, 1,248 yds) — then traded to NYJ for a 5th-round pick.

Split

Holmes receiving yards per season

x	y
2006 PIT (rookie)	824
2007 PIT	991
2008 PIT (SB MVP)	821
2009 PIT (career-high)	1248
2010 NYJ	792
2011 NYJ	654
2013 NYJ	456
2014 CHI (final)	67

Among SB MVPs since 2000, Holmes' 6,125 career yards is the lowest — a one-game-defines-a-career profile.

Comparison

Modern WR SB MVPs career yards

Player	Career Yards	SB MVP
Jerry Rice	22,895	XXIII
Cooper Kupp	6,500+	LVI
Santonio Holmes	6,125	XLIII
Hines Ward	12,083	XL
Deion Branch	4,395	XXXIX

He's the only PIT WR ever to win a Super Bowl MVP — even ahead of Hines Ward, Lynn Swann, and John Stallworth.

Anomaly

PIT WR Super Bowl MVPs

Player	Super Bowl	MVP
Lynn Swann	X	Yes
Hines Ward	XL	Yes
Santonio Holmes	XLIII	Yes
John Stallworth	XIV	No (set rec)

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