IFL Massachusetts Pirates

Pirates Re-Sign DB's Paris Ford & C.J. Holmes

November 5, 2024 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release


LOWELL, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates have re-signed defensive backs Paris Ford and C.J. Holmes for the 2025 season.

Ford appeared in eight regular season games, starting five times making 16 tackles with one for a loss while breaking up three passes. In five games in the regular season, Holmes made four starts with 13 tackles and three passes broken up. Both upped their game in the postseason.

Ford, 6'0", 190 lbs, who hails from Pittsburgh, PA, started in two of the Pirates' three playoff games. He totaled 16 tackles with .5 tackles for a loss. He broke up three passes and forced two fumbles in the Massachusetts victory over Green Bay to propel the Pirates to the Indoor Football League's National Championship game.

Holmes, a 6'1", 190 lb. native of New Orleans, LA, also started in two of the three playoff games making 7.5 tackles with an interception while breaking up two passes. His pick against Green Bay was one of four turnovers the team caused in the Conference Championship win.

Prior to joining the Pirates, Ford played in the USFL in 2022 and 2023 with the New Jersey Generals and made 53 tackles while adding two interceptions. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL in 2021 as an undrafted free agent and saw action in one preseason game. The former Pitt Panther played in 29 collegiate games over four seasons with his hometown team.

After redshirting in 2017 he went on to start in 18 games and finished his career with 147 tackles with six tackles for a loss. He also recorded six interceptions and forced three fumbles. His best season was in 2019 as he led the team with 97 tackles and three interceptions. That year against Duke he notched a career high 12 tackles with two interceptions including a 26-yard "pick-six." At the end of that season he was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference First-Team selection. In 2020 he was an All-ACC Second-Team performer.

Holmes joined the Pirates after a stint with the Orlando Guardians of the XFL as he was the first defensive back taken in the first round of the league draft in February of 2023. He also attended the New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp after college in May of that year as an undrafted free agent.

Holmes began his collegiate football journey as a walk-on at Jackson State University, where he swiftly rose to prominence as one of the team's top defensive backs. Over his five seasons at JSU under the direction of then Head Coach Deion Sanders, Holmes registered 106 total tackles, broke up 32 passes, and had eight interceptions. His best season was his senior year of 2021 where he notched 40 total tackles, an interception, and broke up eight passes.



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