Kansas City Chiefs Icon Battles Alzheimer’s at 52 — Forgetting So Much, Yet Holding Onto His Glory in Red & Gold

Kansas City, MO – A shocking development has shaken the NFL community as news broke that one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time greats has been diagnosed with dementia. At just 52 years old, the disease has left him unable to speak.

According to his family, the former star has moved into a full-time care facility, separated from his wife and children. It is the only place equipped to provide the round-the-clock assistance he now requires, as his memory and cognitive abilities rapidly decline.

His wife shared an emotional update: “He can’t speak anymore. He only remembers our daughter’s name and that he once played football. He doesn’t even know my name. Doctors say it’s Frontotemporal Dementia, but he’s far too young. I believe constant head trauma from CTA caused it.”

The man she’s speaking about is Priest Holmes, the legendary running back who defined Kansas City football from 2001 to 2007. A three-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2002, Holmes once set the league record with 27 touchdowns in 2003.

Over seven unforgettable seasons with the Chiefs, Holmes amassed more than 6,000 rushing yards and 83 total touchdowns, becoming one of the most dominant backs of his era. Before Jamaal Charles, it was Holmes who held nearly every rushing record in franchise history.

His career was tragically cut short by knee and spinal injuries, but his brilliance on the field remains etched in NFL history. Few players combined vision, toughness, and versatility quite like Holmes during his prime years.

Today, however, that glory feels distant. Holmes can only faintly recall that he once played for the Chiefs, along with the name of his daughter — heartbreaking proof of how devastating this illness can be.

Across Chiefs Kingdom, fans and former teammates are rallying with prayers and support. Priest Holmes was once the face of Kansas City’s rise in the early 2000s, and now, many hope he can summon that same fighting spirit in the toughest battle of his life.