Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt among 25 semi-finalists for 2019 NFL Hall of Fame class

Thanksgiving. Flag Day. Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt being named semifinalists for the NFL Hall of Fame. There are certain parts of the year you just always look forward to.

Yes again for the sixth year in a row, the two former Rams greats have been named as semifinalists for the Hall.

Back in September, the two were among nine former Rams in the original 102 nominees for the 2019 class. The other seven didn’t make the 25-man semifinalist list leaving just Bruce and Holt as the only former Rams unlike last year when Bruce, Holt and DE Leslie O’Neal formed a trio of former Rams among the semifinalists.

Of the 25 semifinalists, 20 are repeaters. The other five include three players who are eligible for the first time (CB Champ Bailey, TE Tony Gonzalez and S Ed Reed) and two who were nominated before but not as semifinalists (LB Zach Thomas and coach Tom Flores). I mention those only to note there are no new wide receivers to add to the backlog that would stand in Bruce’s or Holt’s way. The only other wide receiver in the semifinalist list along with the two Rams is former Pittsburgh Steelers great WR Hines Ward.

On January 3 ahead of the playoffs, the committee will whittle the 25-man semifinalist list down to 15 finalists plus the three special nominees. The final vote will come February 2 on the eve of Super Bowl LIII.

Here’s hoping the committee does the right thing and puts the final members of the Greatest Show on Turf in the hall to join QB Kurt Warner, RB Marshall Faulk, LT Orlando Pace and S Aeneas Williams.