Holloway (far right) in 1985 with then-Boston City Councilor Thomas Menino (far left), Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis (second from left), and Boston mayor Raymond Flynn (second from right)
They did not make the playoffs in 1983 and 1984 but did so in 1985. After beating the New York Jets in a wild-card game of the 1985–86 NFL playoffs, the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Raiders on the road in the divisional round with a strong running game, amassing 156 yards, 104 by running back Craig James behind Holloway and Hannah. The line then destroyed the Miami Dolphins' run defense on the road by accumulating 255 yards, 105 of them by James, winning the AFC title. However, they could not run over the legendary Chicago Bears defense of 1985 in Super Bowl XX, Holloway having a hard time with the formidably swift right defensive endRichard Dent, who would be named Most Valuable Player of the game.[2]
After finishing with a won-lost record of 11–5 and winning the AFC East division, New England fell short against the Denver Broncos, led by quarterback John Elway, in a divisional round of the 1986–87 NFL playoffs.
Holloway was one of the most dominating offensive tackles in his era, as indicated in part by three Pro Bowl selections from 1983 to 1985.
Brian Holloway played left offensive tackle with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987 and 1988 after being traded to the Raiders on September 2, 1987 in exchange for the Raiders' fifth-round selection in the 1988 NFL Draft. In the strike-shortened 1987 NFL season, he started eight of 12 games, but did not start in 1988, his final year in the NFL, being replaced at that position by Don Mosebar.
Holloway had a home in Stephentown, New York for over 30 years, while living at his Florida residence in Tampa.[3] While he was in Tampa on August 31, 2013, over 500 local high school students broke into his New York house and caused damage that Holloway says exceeds $20,000 while throwing a party.[4] In response, Holloway set up a website, www.helpmesave300.com, to reach out to those who caused the damage in a positive way; instead, he received threats from their parents.[3][5][6] Six people were arrested September 26, 2013 in connection with the partygoers who trashed the home.[7]
In October 2013, the Holloway home sold at foreclosure auction to the Berkshire Bank, which purchased it for $400,000. It was the sole bidder on the property. After the auction, the Albany Times Union reported that Holloway owed Berkshire Bank $1,006,348.80. He had also built up a backlog of unpaid property and school taxes, totaling $45,131.[8]
