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Rams legendary receiver Torry Holt once again came up short in his bid for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This was the sixth time the franchise’s second-all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns was snubbed for this honor. A key contributor to the “Greatest Show on Turf,” the Gibsonville, North Carolina native is the only Hall of Fame-eligible player from this core not to make it to Canton.
Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Orlando Pace, Isaac Bruce, and even coach Dick Vermeil all have their gold jackets. So why not Holt? The No. 6 pick out of the 1999 NFL Draft, Torry came into the NFL ready to contribute immediately. That season, first-year offensive coordinator Mike Martz implemented a new high-flying vertical offense hinged on an elite aerial attack.
Holt caught 52 passes for 788 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie year. The Rams wideout was subsequently critical during the team’s Super Bowl run. He had 242 receiving yards and one touchdown in three postseason games, including a 109-yard performance with a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the iconic Super Bowl XXXIV. This was the franchise’s first Lombardi trophy ever.
After that, Holt went on to post eight straight seasons of 1,000+ yards. Even as the Rams deteriorated as a franchise and Mike Martz was long gone, Holt was a constant on offense. He was also a significant factor in why this squad returned to the Super Bowl following their first championship.
With all that being said, in ten years of being eligible for Canton, Holt has not received the call. There ultimately are valid arguments for and against Torry’s induction. And this debate will continue to rage until the legendary receiver gets a bust. If he gets a bust.
There are two many arguments against Torry Holt’s case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. First, he was the product of a system that made it easier for receivers to thrive. Second, during this era, the voters for Canton clearly considered Holt to be the second-best receiver on his team.
We’ll get into the Isaac Bruce vs Torry Holt comparison later on, statistically. Still, it’s hard to get two receivers from the same era into the Hall of Fame. From an on-the-field standpoint, Mike Martz admitted that a lot of this offense revolved around Bruce consistently generating double coverage. Therefore, Holt was helped by his counterpart’s presence. In addition, Holt only has two All-Pro selections to his name and is not exceptionally high in all-time receptions and receiving touchdowns.
This team also had a Hall of Fame quarterback, running back, wideout, and offensive lineman. So it almost seems like we’re talking about a dynastic team here. However, during this era, the Rams won two NFC Championships and one Super Bowl. More team accolades would have definitely helped Holt’s case.
Lastly, getting into the Hall of Fame as a wideout is challenging and will only get more complex. Over the...
