Brian Holloway was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round (19th overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft out of Stanford University. As a rookie in 1981 he started 5 of 16 games. In the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season, Holloway started 9 of 9 games as he became the starting left offensive tackle , next to guard John Hannah, and missed only one start up to the end of the 1986 NFL season. In the 1982-83 NFL playoffs, the Patriots lost to the Miami Dolphins in a wild-card game.