Torry Holt
Encyclopedia
After injuring his knee at the Senior Bowl
, Holt, at 192 pounds, ran a 4.44 second 40-yard dash and had a vertical jump of 37 inches at the 1999 NFL Combine
and the first selection made by the St. Louis Rams
. On July 23, 1999, Holt signed a five-year, $10 million contract, including a $5.4 million signing bonus, with the Rams. In his rookie season he posted 53 receptions, 788 total yards and six touchdowns on the way to the Super Bowl XXXIV
championship.
Beginning in 2000 Holt reached at least 1,300 yards every season through 2005. He in fact is the only receiver in NFL history to post six consecutive years of 1,300 yards receiving. Holt's streak was broken in 2006, due to injuries to himself and other teammates that hindered the offense for parts of the year. Holt came into the NFL as number 88, but in 2001 changed his number to 81 (worn by Az-Zahir Hakim
previously).
Holt's career also includes 7 Pro Bowls (2000, 2001, 2003–2007) including five straight, 74 career touchdowns for 446 points (including 2 two-point conversions) and 920 career receptions. He ranks among the top 10 active leaders in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and receptions, and has finished in the top ten of those three categories in each of the last five seasons(2003–2007). Holt has also led the league in receiving yardage on two separate occasions (2000, 2003), and receptions once (2003). Holt is tenth all time in receiving yards, and eleventh all time in pass receptions.
Prior to the 2003 seasons Holt agreed to a 7-year $42 million contract extension that included a $12.5 million signing bonus. Holt led the NFL in receptions in 2003 and led the NFL in receiving yardage in 2000 and 2003. He was a First-team All-Pro in 2003 and a Second-team selection in 2006. On October 15, 2006, Holt became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 receiving yards doing so in the sixth game of his eighth season and also to 11,000 yards.
His request for a release
was granted by the Rams on March 13, 2009. If he was not released, he would have been due $5.65 and $6.65 million in the last two years of his contract and subsequently become a free agent
in 2010.
Holt finished his 10-year career with the Rams starting 147 of 158 games, recording 869 receptions for 12,660 yards, and 74 touchdowns.
on April 20, 2009, to a 3-year, $20 million deal. Holt had 51 catches, but for the first time in his career he did not have a touchdown reception. Holt was released on February 11, 2010, and only earned $3.45 million of the $20 million contract.
. He was placed on injured reserve on August 15, 2010 as a result of a knee injury that would require surgery. He was released by the team on August 17, 2010 with an injury settlement.
broadcast of the annual NCSU game with UNC-Chapel Hill, sideline reporter Mike Hogewood
prefaced an interview with Holt stating that he had retired. Holt has since gotten into broadcasting with Fox Sports
, providing commentary for their NFL
coverage.
Holt joined NFL Network
in 2010 as an analyst on the network’s signature show, NFL Total Access
, as well as other NFL Network shows and specials. He made his debut as an analyst on the NFL Total Access: Pro Bowl Selection Show on Dec. 28, 2010.
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
, Holt, at 192 pounds, ran a 4.44 second 40-yard dash and had a vertical jump of 37 inches at the 1999 NFL Combine
NFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
St. Louis Rams
Holt was the sixth overall draft pick in the 1999 NFL Draft1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
and the first selection made by the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. On July 23, 1999, Holt signed a five-year, $10 million contract, including a $5.4 million signing bonus, with the Rams. In his rookie season he posted 53 receptions, 788 total yards and six touchdowns on the way to the Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
championship.
Beginning in 2000 Holt reached at least 1,300 yards every season through 2005. He in fact is the only receiver in NFL history to post six consecutive years of 1,300 yards receiving. Holt's streak was broken in 2006, due to injuries to himself and other teammates that hindered the offense for parts of the year. Holt came into the NFL as number 88, but in 2001 changed his number to 81 (worn by Az-Zahir Hakim
Az-Zahir Hakim
Az-Zahir Ali Hakim is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
previously).
Holt's career also includes 7 Pro Bowls (2000, 2001, 2003–2007) including five straight, 74 career touchdowns for 446 points (including 2 two-point conversions) and 920 career receptions. He ranks among the top 10 active leaders in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and receptions, and has finished in the top ten of those three categories in each of the last five seasons(2003–2007). Holt has also led the league in receiving yardage on two separate occasions (2000, 2003), and receptions once (2003). Holt is tenth all time in receiving yards, and eleventh all time in pass receptions.
Prior to the 2003 seasons Holt agreed to a 7-year $42 million contract extension that included a $12.5 million signing bonus. Holt led the NFL in receptions in 2003 and led the NFL in receiving yardage in 2000 and 2003. He was a First-team All-Pro in 2003 and a Second-team selection in 2006. On October 15, 2006, Holt became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 receiving yards doing so in the sixth game of his eighth season and also to 11,000 yards.
His request for a release
Legal release
A legal release is a legal instrument that acts to terminate any legal liability between the releasor and the releasee, signed by the releasor. A release may also be made orally in some circumstances...
was granted by the Rams on March 13, 2009. If he was not released, he would have been due $5.65 and $6.65 million in the last two years of his contract and subsequently become a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 2010.
Holt finished his 10-year career with the Rams starting 147 of 158 games, recording 869 receptions for 12,660 yards, and 74 touchdowns.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Holt was signed by the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on April 20, 2009, to a 3-year, $20 million deal. Holt had 51 catches, but for the first time in his career he did not have a touchdown reception. Holt was released on February 11, 2010, and only earned $3.45 million of the $20 million contract.
New England Patriots
On April 20, 2010, Holt signed a one-year, $1.7 million contract with the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He was placed on injured reserve on August 15, 2010 as a result of a knee injury that would require surgery. He was released by the team on August 17, 2010 with an injury settlement.
Retirement
On November 20, 2010 during the Raycom SportsRaycom Sports
Raycom Sports is an American syndicator of sports television programs. It is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and owned and operated by Raycom Media.-Founding:...
broadcast of the annual NCSU game with UNC-Chapel Hill, sideline reporter Mike Hogewood
Mike Hogewood
Michael "Mike" Hogewood is an American sportscaster. He is a freelance play-by-play announcer who is primarily associated with Raycom Sports . Hogewood is best known for his work on ACC football games, ACC men's and women's basketball, as well as for anchoring Raycom's coverage of Nextel Cup...
prefaced an interview with Holt stating that he had retired. Holt has since gotten into broadcasting with Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
, providing commentary for their NFL
NFL on FOX
NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports...
coverage.
Holt joined NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
in 2010 as an analyst on the network’s signature show, NFL Total Access
NFL Total Access
NFL Total Access is a television news program on the NFL Network.The network treats it as the league's "show of record" and bills it as the only year-round show dedicated to the National Football League, despite the ESPN show NFL Live running year round as well.NFL Total Access is primarily hosted...
, as well as other NFL Network shows and specials. He made his debut as an analyst on the NFL Total Access: Pro Bowl Selection Show on Dec. 28, 2010.
NFL records
- Consecutive seasons with at least 1,300 yards receiving (6).
- Consecutive seasons with 90+ receptions (6).
- Torry Holt along with Marvin HarrisonMarvin HarrisonMarvin Daniel Harrison is a former American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Syracuse...
are the only receivers with two 1,600 yard receiving seasons. - Highest Average Gain, Game (3 receptions +), 63.00, Torry Holt, September 24, 2000
- Ranked first in the NFL from 2000-08 with 817 receptions for 11,872 yards and 562 first downs during that span
- Reached 10,000 (116 games) and 11,000 (130 games) career receiving yards faster than any other player
- Super Bowl rookie record for receptions (7) and receiving yards (109) in 1999
- Top 10 in career receiving yards.
- Second-highest receiving yards per game, career (77.4 yds/game)
- Receptions in a single decade (868, 2000–2009)
- Receiving yards in a single decade (12,594, 2000–2009)