Opinion

Enough Already, Put Torry Holt into the Hall of Fame

Published

4 years ago

December 7, 2021

For the last two years, former NC State great Torry Holt has been a finalist for the Football Hall of Fame. And again and again, the word “snub” was used in record numbers when the vote fell through.

We know it. Teammates know it. Everyone knows it. Torry Holt is a Hall of Famer.

Imagine for a Second

Like most folks, the stats are thrown out for and against.

74 Touchdowns
920 Receptions
13,382 Receiving Yards
Super Bowl Ring
7 Pro Bowls
Tw0 All-Pro
Two Season as Receiving Yard Leaders

They’re fantastic numbers. The fact that three members (Warner, Bruce and Faulk) of the St Louis Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” squad are in and Holt is sitting on the sidelines, somehow makes it even more curious.

Even before we go any further…Holt is the ONLY player to have six-straight season of 1,300 or more yards. Furthermore, Torry Holt ranks 7th in NFL history for yards per game, with 77.4. Holt did the most with the years and opportunities he had.

But what I’m interested in, is Holt’s stats “expanded” by players around him in the greatest of all-time list. Holt played 11 seasons (10 with Rams, 1 with Jacksonville). When you look at wide receivers, on a variety of lists, the average career went 13-14 seasons. Even his teammate and Hall of Famer Issac Bruce played for 16 seasons. So just follow me for a second…

Let’s say, Holt plays 3 more seasons…averages 625 yards, 3 touchdowns, 45 receptions per. I’m optimistic that could and would have happened. He now ranks in NFL history;

24th in TD Receptions
12th in Receptions
5th in Receiving Yards

In all of the NFL, the man would be in the upper tier in every major category. Moss, Owens, Fitzgerald, Harrison, Carter…all these guys are great, without question ,and they all had multiple years on Holt. Expanding out numbers in the slightest to compare and Holt is a no brainer.

Further Intangibles

Here’s the thing, and maybe it’s too sentimental, but everyone loves Holt. If you want to have a steward of the game AND community involved in your Hall of Fame, you add Holt.

The man retires and heads back home work with his brother, Terrence, and Holt Brother, Inc. He works with youth and high school teams. The man is soft spoken and a genuine good guy. In an era (and statistically comparative) of players that are consistently a*sholes or in the spotlight for negative issues, Holt is the opposite.

Talking to a friend from St. Louis about Holt,