Alex Holmes

Alex Holmes (born August 22, 1981 in San Diego, California) is a former National Football League tight end.

Professional career

Holmes played for the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams for 2006. Holmes was subsequently released by the Rams before the season started.

College career

Holmes played college football for the University of Southern California. He was a starter at tight end, and a part of two national championship teams.

High school career

He played high school football for Harvard-Westlake School near Sherman Oaks, CA. In 1998, he led the team at tight end and middle linebacker to a 10-4 record, and a berth in the Division VII CIF Southern Section championship game. His coach called him the best player he had ever coached in his thirty-year career. Alex was inducted into the Harvard-Westlake Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

Personal

His father, Mike, played at University of Michigan in the mid-1970s. Holmes' younger sister is married to Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. His younger brother Khaled was an offensive lineman at USC, and currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts. Alex studied Latin and Greek in High School: "I took Latin and classical Greek courses in high school. I love the classical languages. They're very interesting languages to study. My mother is full-blooded Greek, there's the connection." Though large in stature, Holmes is a surprisingly elusive basketball player with a deadly outside shot. Known for repeatedly torching unsuspecting defenders, he made a name for himself at the Lakeshore Towers 24 Hour Ultra Sport, and continues playing in some of Southern California's premier basketball leagues. Alex married Lesley Swanson, whom he met at USC, in 2015. The wedding was held in Beverly Hills, California.