He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft with the 19th overall pick.

Holliday also played in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, and Arizona Cardinals.

In the first round of the playoffs, Holliday recorded a sack against Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young of the San Francisco 49ers.

For his performance in 1998, Holliday was a consensus all-rookie selection and finished second behind Oakland Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson for AP's Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Though the Packers and Holliday discussed a contract extension prior to the 2002 season, the organization's decision to retain defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt - coupled with coach Mike Sherman being a fan of young defensive end Aaron Kampman - spelled the end of Holliday's tenure in Green Bay after the expiration of his rookie contract.

[citation needed] As a free agent in 2003, Holliday received interest from multiple teams including the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks.

That being the case, the structure of the contract created what essentially would be a two-year deal due to a $5 million bonus owed before the third year.

He made a splash in his first game in red and gold, sacking San Diego Chargers quarterback Drew Brees three times.

The Miami Dolphins showed great interest in Holliday right from the start, and signed him to a contract less than two weeks after his release from the Chiefs.

[2] On February 21, 2007, the Dolphins re-signed Holliday to a four-year deal that would prevent the upcoming free agent from hitting the open market, where he was surely to cash in after a stellar 2006 campaign.

[7] Holliday was traded to the Arizona Cardinals along with a sixth round draft pick in exchange for running back Tim Hightower on July 31, 2011.

He founded the Vonnie Holliday Foundation in 2001, which assists children's hospitals and the Camden Bulldogs football camp in South Carolina with visits and fund raising activities.