| John Holifield | |
| Number: | 40[1] |
| Position: | Running back |
| Birth Date: | July 14, 1964 |
| Birth Place: | Romulus, Michigan, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 0 |
| Weight Lb: | 202 |
| College: | West Virginia |
| Draftyear: | 1987 |
| Draftround: | 12 |
| Draftpick: | 328[2] |
| Pastteams: | |
| Pfr: | H/HoliJo20 |
Johnathan Mark Holifield (born July 14, 1964) was an American football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at West Virginia.
Holifield played high school football at Romulus High School in Romulus, Michigan.
Holifield arrived at West Virginia in 1983. During his first two seasons as a Mountaineer, 1983 and 1984, Holifield accumulated 388 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Holifield earned the starting running back job in 1984, as a junior. He rushed for 595 yards and 6 touchdowns, along with a receiving score, that season. In 1986, Holifield was elected team captain and totaled his best season statistically. He rushed for 645 yards and 3 touchdowns his final season as a Mountaineer.
Holifield was drafted in the 12th round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.[3] He was a member of the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals in 1988 and played 3 games for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1989 season. He was released in 1990.[4]
Having received a bachelor's degree in political science in 1987, Holifield earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1996. He practiced law for five years, as a prosecutor in Cincinnati and in private practice by 1999. Afterwards, Holifield became involved in economic development.
In 2006, Holifield became CEO of the Olmsted Parks Conservancy in Buffalo, New York.[5] In 2007, Holifield was picked to lead the Urban League of Greater Cleveland.[6] [7]
On September 18, 2017, Holifield was named executive director of the White House initiative on historically black colleges and universities.[8] [9]