Declining $3 Million in Long Term by Choosing Track and Field, Grant Holloway Calls It the “Best Decision”

If you think Grant Holloway has only one sporting similarity with arch-rival Devon Allen, then you are wrong. The 60m hurdle standout has a long history with football that Allen pursues, simultaneously with hurdling. But Devon may take a breath of relief as Grant Holloway is in no mood to return to his previous sporting affair as he left it in 2019. With that, he also trashed the possibility of earning a $3.26 million salary. It was the average salary of an NFL player in 2019. If Grant had taken up the NFL instead of track, he would’ve made that. But Grant Holloway has no grief over it. Rather, he has volumes to speak, backing his decision to choose track and field. 

In a special conversation with the NBC Olympics, the 3-time world champion revealed the chances of having an alternate career in football. He used to be a four-star wide receiver with a stellar performance at the Rivals Combine Series that witnessed Grant jumping through the ranks. Eventually, he had a chance to move to Georgia, playing in the SEC contest. But the track and field champion opted for the University of Florida. And he still takes pride in it. “That’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” he stated, showing his likeness for the sport. But what is about the fame of standing together with the NFL Pros? 

For his extraordinary showcases, Grant Holloway had once stood in the same bracket with NFL Pros. three-time NFL Pro Bowler A.J. Brown and N’Keal Harry, the first-round draft pick, joined him among four-star wideouts in the Class of 2016. That also established Grant Holloway’s chance of earning big in the NFL, compared to track and field. However, the 26-year-old keeps his achievements under the banner of the Florida Gator closer to his heart. In his college years, Grant Holloway claimed three consecutive track and field high hurdles titles in the indoor and outdoor contests- a rare achievement in the University of Florida’s history.

Since then, he hasn’t had to look back. His achievements in the following years speak volumes for him, justifying his decision made during college time. 

Grant Holloway elevates the track and field world to a different level 

In 60m indoor hurdles, Grant Holloway has made himself synonymous with the event. In the last 10 years, he has faced no defeat in the event. Rather, Grant holds two world indoor championships. Apart from that, the outdoor 110m hurdles event has not remained far away from the Gators’ grab. He boasts of having three consecutive world championship titles in the 110m hurdle with Tokyo Olympics silver. Furthermore, he has one Diamond League final gold from the Olympic event. 

With such titles, the Virginia native now reigns with top world ranking, edging Olympic champion Hansle Parchment in the 110mh event. But if anyone thinks Grant Holloway is classified in these two events only, that would be an injustice to his track and field aura. 

Grant Holloway has had several memorable outings in the relay race-4x100m especially. This year, in Florida Relays, he paired up with PJ Austin, Erriyon Knighton, and Joseph Fauhnbulleh to complete the 4x100m relay run in the world-leading, 37.67 seconds. In the past as well, he repeated such track and field feats. 

In the 2022 Tom Jones Memorial Classic, he appeared for Team Adidas in the 4x100m relay, finishing the race in 38.09 seconds. Riding on such track and field feats, the reigning world indoor champion can easily amp up the competition among the relay runners waiting for Team USA’s call-up. So such elements prove Grant Holloway’s track and field regime.