Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson announced on Monday that the club has agreed to the terms of a five-year contract with unrestricted free agent DE Vonnie Holliday from the Green Bay Packers. As per Chiefs policy, no other terms of the agreement were made available. Holliday enters his sixth NFL season with Kansas City in 2003.
"Vonnie Holliday is an experienced five-year starting defensive end for a perennial playoff team," Peterson commented. "He's a former number one draft choice who helped Green Bay to a substantial number of victories during his tenure there. He has also produced 32.0 sacks in the National Football League and gives the Chiefs an additional pass rusher with solid credentials. He plays both DE positions and he can play DT if necessary. We believe he'll be an excellent addition to our football team."
Holliday (6-5, 290) has played in 66 games (63 starts) over five seasons in the NFL with Green Bay ('98-02). Originally a first-round draft choice (19th overall) of the Packers in '98, Holliday owns 260 tackles (172 solo), 32.0 sacks (-186.0 yards), two interceptions (six yards), 22 passes defensed, five fumble recoveries and six forced fumbles. He also recorded four postseason starts with the Packers, producing 11 tackles (nine solo) with 1.0 sack (-3.0 yards).
The Camden, South Carolina native was a part of Packer squads that made the playoffs each of the past two seasons. He also was a member of Green Bay's '98 team which also qualified for postseason play. Holliday has produced seven games with 2.0 or more sacks during his NFL tenure, including a career-best 5.0-sack performance at Buffalo (12/22/02). He has registered 5.0 or more sacks in each of his first five NFL seasons. He enjoyed his most prolific sack total during his rookie campaign in '98 with 8.0 QB takedowns and racked up a career-high 81 tackles (56 solo) in 2001.
A collegiate standout at the University of North Carolina, Holliday saw duty in 46 games (28 starts) with the Tar Heels, producing 162 tackles (83 solo), 12.0 sacks, 28.0 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and 11 passes defensed. He was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast selection as a senior in '97 when he racked up a career-high 64 tackles.
