"Ernie was one of the toughest players to ever wear a Steelers uniform," Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said in a statement. Noll's gamble had paid off, and the Steelers became the third team in NFL history to win back-to-backSuperBowls. "Ernie was an original. Articles are mostly written by either Dr. Zar or his dad (Major Dan). Then Simpson committed a robbery/kidnapping in Las Vegas in 2007, crimes for which he was convicted and imprisoned. Gordon has continued to violate drug and alcohol policies of the NFL and is currently suspended, missing the best years of what could have been a hall of fame career. Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. She said of the bond between the two families: Ernest stayed with my grandmother and grandfather for two and a half weeks. He was overextended financially -- "I was the successful one in my family and helped people out," he told a reporter back then -- and knew he was facing an expensive divorce. Undisclosed . Ernie Holmes was a Lancaster bomber pilot on a pathfinder bomber squadron. Lewis was placed on probation and continued his NFL career, making millions of dollars while his buds ended up being acquitted. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. But, when it comes to Ben Roethlisberger, Santonio Holmes and the Steelers, at least the team's longtime owner, the Rooney clan, has some experience dealing with controversy. Sadly, five of the eight-man crew were killed and are buried in the Commonwealth Graves Cemetery at Eindhoven. Russell said Holmes had taken "meaningful steps in improving his life" and seemed to be a "much more thoughtful kind of person. Lewis drove himself and his 2 friends away from the scene, and the clothes Lewis was wearing at the time of the incident were discarded and never found. Ernie Holmes Biography About Defensive tackle who was part of the Pittsburgh Steelers' legendary "Steel Curtain" defense; he won two Super Bowls with the team. One of the last surviving Lancaster Bomber pilots has been honoured by the RAF months after celebrating his 100th birthday. Ernie Holmes 19 (courtesy RAF News) PATHFINDER and POW. [11][12] When apprehended, he threw his gun away and put his hands up. We doubt if this goof will ever play in the NFL again. Book excerpt: Former Steeler Ernie Holmes had intense approach to football, life, Nadal is out, but vows to make another comeback, Nadal, hampered by hip, ousted in Melbourne, U-M's Weiss on leave amid police investigation, Source: Johnson tells Lions he'll return as OC, Reports: UF QB commit Rashada wants release, Flyers' Provorov boycotts Pride night, cites religion, Titans hiring 49ers' Carthon as GM, sources say, Police: Speed a primary cause in fatal UGA crash, Investigators say Miles provided gun in shooting, Sources: U.S. calls 2 dual nationals to Jan. camp, Tracing the rise of Josh Allen: Behind-the-scenes stories of how he got here, Why Luka Doncic and Trae Young are linked by more than a draft night trade. We found 37 with the name Ernie Holmes in 115 cities. Finally, we will list some of the rotten behavior perpetrated by NFL players, just as a reminder in case they forgot what their own peers have been up to. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Holmes had split time at defensive tackle in 1972 with Ben McGee. The plane skimmed over the airfield boundary fence and ploughed into a field containing bulls. Starbucks employee praised for discreet coffee cup message to teen in danger. Holmes was put on 5 years probation and was still allowed to play pro football in the NFL! "Our prayers go out to Ernie's family and loved ones. But McGee retired after that season, and Holmes got the job. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland. And, for some reason, Ernie seemed to get a kick out of me, the idea that here I was coming all the way from New York, just to hang out in the Steelers locker room and talk to him. "Ernie had gotten into the ministry and was a true inspiration to Joe, L.C. However, we should also never forget the courage of all the young men who, night after night, went off into the dark knowing full well that their own odds of survival were less than a third. Remains of young woman found more than five years after she disappeared. Please let us know in the comments section below this article. If you liked this article and would like to receive notification of new articles, please feel welcome to subscribe to History and Headlines by liking us on Facebook and becoming one of our patrons! He was out there,". Ernie Holmes was born on 11 January 1948 in Jamestown, Texas, USA. A true player of his generation, Holmes was a blue collar guy who loved mixing it up with the best offensive linemen of his era. As part of the greatest defensive line of the Super Bowl era, Holmes, Greene, L.C. Ernie was the instructor on 24 June 1964 in a twin-engine Cessna 310, which crashed shortly after take-off from Scone. A police helicopter swirled overhead and Holmes, surrounded by state police, began shooting at it, hitting an officer in the ankle. DALLAS (AP) Ernie Holmes, who won two Super Bowls as an anchor of Pittsburgh's famed Steel Curtain defense in the 1970s, died Thursday night in a car crash. Yet he was treated as if he were Joe Greene. I remember one day at practice, a helicopter flew over the field. He was badly burned and spent weeks in hospital. After leaving the RAF in February 1962 he worked as a civilian flying instructor for Airwork Services Training at Scone, Perthshire, training pilots from many countries. Ernie was only 23 when he and his Lancaster Mk III crew were shot down on his 30th mission over German-occupied Holland in May 1944. Holmes tried to live a calmer life in later years, settling on a ranch near the southeast border of Texas, where he had a church and was an ordained minister. Ernie "Fats" Holmes was an original member of the Steel Curtain and finished his six-year career with 40 sacks, still eighth on the team's all-time list. He was convinced the trucks were after him. "I don't know what my life is," he once told Time magazine, "except there's something pounding in the back of my head. After being shot down, he was imprisoned in Stalag Luft III. The students were unscathed but he was very badly burned on his hand and face. This site exists primarily for educational purposes and is intended as a resource for Dr. Zars students. Lewis was the Superbowl MVP the following year. " Gordon said. ", But this is how he lived, all the time, at the extreme edges. Woody Widenhofer, who coached the linebackers, said there were days when Ernie was just as good as Joe Greene. "We all thought," says Art Rooney Jr., "he needed mercy.". Once, at a party in a restaurant hosted by defensive line coach George Perles, the Steelers entered a back room to find a gluttonous spread: A full roasted pig, piles of pasta, roast beef. As they were sitting in a caf, a man joined them and pulled out a ripped piece of paper which jigsawed into a complementary piece held by the woman. Holmes had a reputation for being "stone crazy," he told Time magazine in 1975. David Nash, 26, passed away following four "shambolic" calls with NHS 111 when he was trying to get an urgent in-person consultation. While he struggled in Pittsburgh, his family was waiting in Houston for his checks. , a former defensive tackle of the Raiders and Steelers. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The idiot NFL owners fail to grasp that they have every right to prohibit displays of political grandstanding while the players are representing the team. Sponsored by TruthFinder. "And there is Ernie Holmes almost contented," Hanratty says. ), Holmes decided to start shooting at an Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter between the 1972 and 1973 NFL seasons and was arrested for the crime. Ernie was only 23 when he and his Lancaster Mk III crew were shot down on his 30th mission over German-occupied Holland in May 1944. That came mostly from a case early in his career when he pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon following a. HOUSTON -- The son of former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Ernie Holmes has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for a kidnapping in which the victim was killed. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Two years later in June 1964, while the instructor in a twin-engine Cessna 310, a fire broke out on the plane shortly after take off from Scone and he had to make a crash landing. They got his sentence suspended, with a provision that he undergo psychiatric treatment, which he did. Born 29.1.1921, Ernie took off for his last flight on 14.10.2021. Without promising anything, Rooney told him to come see him in Pittsburgh, that he'd help him work it out. In 1973, he was arrested for firing shots at a police helicopter. Holmes was driving alone Thursday night when his car left the road and rolled several times near Lumberton, Texas,about130 kilometresfrom Houston, a Texas Department of Public Safety dispatcher said Friday. Holmes died in a one-car accident near Beaumont, Texas on the night of January 17, 2008. In September 2021, the Leuchars-based headquarters of ESUAS was named in his honour and the Netherlands Defence and Naval Attach attended to present him with the Dutch Liberators medal. There were people who were scared to death of him, others who didn't want to have anything to do with him, still others who liked him as you would a big, galloping Great Dane puppy.". A Lancaster captain with 35 Sqn - based at Graveley, south of Huntingdon - Ernie Holmes embarked on his 30th Pathfinder mission on the night of 22nd May, 1944. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. While quarterback sacks were not an official NFL statistic until 1982, the Steelers credit Holmes with a career total of 40, eighth on the franchise's all-time list. In January this year Ernies 100th birthday was celebrated in style with a piper greeting him outside Kincarrathie House, where he was cared for in his last years. No NFL owner likes to read about his Super Bowl MVP receiver causing trouble. In 1973, he was arrested for firing shots at a police helicopter. The Week, 2017. Grp Capt Montgomery described Ernie as a man of great humility and solid determination who understood the futility of war. He had not been wearing a seat belt.[17][18]. While he never received the recognition he deserved, the success Holmes enjoyed as a member ofthe Steel Curtain defensive line made up for it. "I don't mind knocking somebody out," Holmes said. Flight Lieutenant Ernie Holmes, who has died aged 100, was one of the few surviving Lancaster Pathfinder pilots. Editor's note: This is excerpted from The Ones Who Hit The Hardest: The Steelers, the Cowboys, the '70s and the Fight for America's Soul, by Chad Millman and Shawn Coyne, to be published this September by Gotham Books. He played seven seasons from 1972 to 1978 and was a twotime Super Bowl c Perhaps depressed over marital problems (who isn't? This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. He also was nicknamed "Arrowhead" in 1974 when he shaved his head, leaving only an arrow-shaped pattern of hair on his skull. He played seven seasons from 1972 to 1978 and was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers. Ernie Holmes was honoured at a ceremony last week. Ernie left the RAF in 1962 to join Airwork Services at Scone Aerodrome as a civilian flight instructor. Holmes was a religious man and, until the end of his life, carried with him the bible he was given in Stalag Luft III. 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