Not done yet: Cannons re-sign Marcus Holman through 2027

For veteran attackman Marcus Holman, the end of the 2026 season never felt like the final chapter.Retirement, he said, never even crossed his mind. At 35, the Boston Cannons captain isn’t ready to walk away from the game that has shaped so much of his life.“I can’t let it go,” Holman said with a laugh.Holman signed another one-year contract with the Cannons, the team announced Monday, extending his career for another season; a familiar arrangement for a player who has grown accustomed to taking things one year at a time.“I feel like I’ve been on a one-year deal for, like, the past five years. Since I turned 30,” Holman said.The one-year deals give Holman the flexibility to evaluate his future season by season, leaving the door open to decide what comes next.But while Holman jokes that he simply can’t let the game go, there’s more to his decision to return. As he enters Year 15, he’s still producing at a level that gives him plenty of reason to keep playing.In 2026, Holman recorded a career-high six two-point goals and finished second in the league in points (41) behind the Philadelphia Waterdogs’ Michael Sowers (51). His production made him a finalist for the Jim Brown Most Valuable Player and Eamon McEneaney Attackman of the Year awards, and earned him a First-Team All-Pro selection.MARCUS HOLMAN TWO BOMB AT THE BUZZER‼️ The Cannons scored 3 points in 4 seconds to close out the half! 👀 https://t.co/aVLvWWF4Qv— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 19, 2026He’s also closing in on the all-time career goals record, sitting just five goals shy of surpassing John Grant Jr.’s 393.The record is within reach, and Holman recognizes the significance of what it would mean to add his name to the history books. But breaking individual records isn’t the sole incentive to bring him back to Boston for another season.A group worth coming back forThe decision to return was shaped by the belief in what this group can still achieve together.After a slow start to the season, the Cannons found their footing in the second half, building momentum as underdogs and advancing to the semifinals before falling to the eventual champion Waterdogs.“I have confidence in our coaching staff and our core group,” Holman said. “We became a pretty special team this year. There’s just that hunger to do it with this group, wearing a Cannons jersey. It would mean the world to me to make it to Championship Weekend and bring it home.”The Cannons’ belief in their future is built around a young core. First- and second-year players made up nearly half the roster in 2026, putting Holman in a position to lead a group still learning what it takes to succeed at the professional level.For rookies like Mikey Weisshaar and Jack Regnery, that leadership has extended beyond the field.Holman understands how difficult the transition from a first to second PLL season can be. The talent that gets a player to the league is only part of the equation; sustaining it requires the discipline to keep improving when the adjustment period is over.Regnery has taken one of Holman’s lessons to heart. A sticky note taped to his mirror reads “no negotiations,” a reminder of a conversation with Holman about the discipline required to train consistently. When it comes to putting in the work, Holman told him, you can’t negotiate with yourself.“Saying it to a rookie going into a second year and him taking it to heart and using that as motivation, I think that’s an intangible that Marcus brings,” Cannons head coach Brian Holman said.For the younger Cannons, Holman’s example carries weight. They’re watching a player at 35 continue to produce, lead an offense and prepare for another season, offering a glimpse of what a long career in the league can look like.That influence extends to the coaching staff, as well. Brian Holman sees Marcus’ growth mindset as one of his most valuable qualities, pointing to a veteran who continues to challenge himself even after more than a decade in professional lacrosse.“Marcus is someone whose growth mindset is at the top of the list. He’s always looking for ways to challenge himself and the people around him,” Holman said.That willingness to evolve could prove especially important as Boston looks to take another step offensively in 2027. Few players are better equipped to lead that process than Marcus, who has repeatedly adapted his game throughout his career.“I can’t think of a better guy to sort of lead that charge,” Brian Holman said. “He’s evolved probably three different times over his career, maybe four in the PLL and the MLL.”But as he approaches another season, the question isn’t whether he can adapt – it’s how long he wants to keep playing.Is this the end?Holman turns 36 in May. With fatherhood adding a new chapter to his life and the all-time career goals record within reach, he has plenty of reasons to reflect on how much longer he wants to play.But he isn’t approaching 2027 as a farewell tour. For Holman, the decision to retire will come down to one thing: whether he still believes he can compete at the level he expects of himself.“As long as I’m still productive and I can play at a high level, I want to keep going,” Holman said. “I’m in a pretty good headspace about wanting to walk away on my own.”That means continuing to hold himself to the same standards that have carried him through his career, with no predetermined date for when it will end.“I’m going to continue to have high standards for myself and set high goals,” Holman said. “When I don’t feel like doing that is when I’ll walk away.”When that day will come remains uncertain, though Holman has started preparing for life beyond lacrosse – what he calls “prehabbing” for retirement. Fatherhood, he said, has already begun changing his perspective.“I still know it’s going to be hard, but I think moving into fatherhood has helped mature me and change me for the better,” Holman said.His 1-year-old son, Tiger, could be heard babbling in the backseat as Holman reflected on what comes after the game. Whenever his playing career does end, he hopes to leave on his own terms and with no regrets.“I think whenever this chapter closes, I want it to be on a high note,” Holman said. “Ideally, we’re playing a championship.”