Big Game Torry Holt Should Be in the Hall of Fame

Kurt Warner’s election to the NFL Hall of Fame over the weekend was a joyous occasion. Sadly, for the third year in a row his two receivers Issac Bruce and “Big Game” Torry Holt did not get voted in. They were the two constants on the Rams receiving corps and helped define the Greatest Show on Turf era. Unlike Bruce, Holt’s game allowed for catches that would make it onto a highlight reel and he had enough flash to stand out from most of the star receivers in what was a loaded era for receivers.

Unfortunately, injuries derailed what was becoming a first ballot Hall of Fame career and if he had found his way towards one last playoff run it would’ve sealed it. His ten years in the league were productive and on top of his Super Bowl win he set a variety of receiving records that to this day have never been broken.

From 2000-2005 Holt would amass 1300 receiving yards a total of six times which has never been replicated. He also had at least 90 catches in six consecutive seasons. He also has the most receiving yards and receptions in a single decade with 12.594 yards and 868 catches. Also during this span he gained 1600+ yards twice, another feat that has yet to be matched. Holt also became the fastest to reach 10,000 receiving yards and he is currently 13th all time on the receptions list. His overall numbers rank 2nd all time to Issac Bruce in Rams history , he made the Pro Bowl seven times, lead the league in receiving yards twice (2000, 2003), and made the all 2000s team.

What’s more impressive is that like Bruce, Holt didn’t have the luxury of having Kurt Warner during his record breaking run. Holt was putting up these numbers with the likes of Marc Bulger, Jamie Martin, Trent Green, and Jeff Smoker throwing to him and that isn’t exactly a murderer’s row of quarterbacks.

Sadly, his knees prevented him from having one last hurrah with another team so while the likes of Moss, Harrison, Wayne, and Owens got to have defining moments of greatness, Holt faded away. The Denver Post’s Woody Paige described him as “the greatest wide receiver I have ever seen” and his athleticism was mixed with a humility that would be antithetical to the diva behavior that is normally attributed to the star receiver.

Torry Holt may not be the first name everyone thinks of when discussing the greatest wide receivers of the last twenty years but his numbers speak for themselves. True, Moss and Owens had bigger numbers and via their transcendent play as well as their colorful personalities were able to forever solidify themselves as superstars but Holt not only has a ring (and one more Super Bowl appearance) but his numbers were more consistent. Big Game Torry Holt is the most underrated receiver of his generation. Sadly, history won’t be written that way but like Bruce he will eventually join Warner, Williams, Faulk, and Pace in the Hall of Fame.