Rams legend Torry Holt is one step closer to potentially becoming the next member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Henry Ellard is right there with him, too. On Tuesday, it was announced that Holt and Ellard are among 28 semifinalists for the Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
It’s Holt’s ninth time being a semifinalist, so he’s come close to making it to Canton before. The next step is for Holt to be voted a finalist, which he’s done in each of the last three years. That list of finalists will be revealed in December, with the final class being announced in February.
Holt played 10 seasons with the Rams, catching 869 passes for 12,660 yards and 74 touchdowns. He ranks second in franchise history in receptions and receiving yards. He won one Super Bowl with the team before eventually finishing his career with the Jaguars.
🚨NEWS🚨
We are excited to reveal our 28 Modern-Era Semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023.
The list includes five first-year eligible candidates.
Full List Of Semifinalists: https://t.co/yC5UKWUE7r pic.twitter.com/xGyuX5emrB
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) November 22, 2022
During his Rams career, he was voted a Pro Bowler seven times and was a first-team All-Pro once. He led the league in receiving twice: 2000 when he had 1,635 yards and 2003 when he finished with 1,696 yards and a league-high 117 catches.
Ellard is a semifinalist for the first time after playing 16 seasons in the NFL, 11 with the Rams. He caught 814 passes totaling 13,777 yards in his career, scoring 65 touchdowns.
He only made the Pro Bowl three times, but more impressively, he was an All-Pro twice. Ellard ranks 15th all-time in career receiving yards and 34th in receptions.
Holt’s former teammate, Steven Jackson, was unfortunately not among the 28 semifinalists for the Hall of Fame. This was his third year of eligibility and he has yet to make it to the semifinalist stage.
