[4] He was credited with helping the Duquesne Dukes football team establish itself in "the big time", according to The Pittsburgh Press.

[3] He helped the team reach the Orange Bowl on two occasions, including defeats of both Miami and Mississippi State.

[2] In 1944, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers (who played that year as the Card-Pitt due to a merger with the Chicago Cardinals) as public relations director.

[7][8][9] He served two years on the state athletic commission and helped Pittsburgh be the host of two championship boxing matches.

[3] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in describing his career, noted that "Mr. Holahan, who occasionally seemed gruff to outsiders, was considered an efficient and hard-working executive.