Tag: Floyd Reese

Titans will induct Floyd Reese, Jeff Fisher into Ring of Honor in Week 11

The ceremony will occur at halftime of the game against the Texans.

After announcing earlier in the year that former general manager, the late Floyd Reesee, and former head coach, Jeff Fisher, were to be inducted into the Ring of Honor in 2021, the Tennessee Titans have now revealed the date.

Per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online, the two men will be honored at the Week 11 contest against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium. The ceremony will take place at halftime.

Reese, who passed away back in August, was responsible for hiring Fisher, who took the team to its only Super Bowl appearance. Reese and Fisher hold the franchise records for most wins by a general manager and head coach.

Fisher and Reese are the second and third former Titans/Oilers to be inducted this year, as former Oilers head coach Bum Phillips was honored during the Sept. 26 game against the Indianapolis Colts.

After announcing the trio would be inducted, controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk released this statement:

“I am so excited to recognize these important figures in our team’s history,” Adams Strunk said. “Each had a significant hand in the success of their eras. Bum was Texas through and through and led us to new heights as the ‘Luv Ya Blue’ era was born, reaching two AFC Championship games.

“Jeff won more games than any coach in franchise history, while also leading our football team through some difficult years as we moved to Tennessee – playing in four different home stadiums over a four-year period. His ability to connect with our players and our fans was unmatched and he too reached two AFC Championship games and helped take us to our only Super Bowl.

“Floyd was a great position coach for us during our run of success during the Run ‘n Shoot years and then transitioned to the front office, where he found even greater success. He had a great ability to find talent and take ‘chances’ to find sustained success – hiring a first-time head coach in Jeff Fisher; selecting a Division I-AA quarterback, Steve McNair, in the top five of the draft; converting a first-round linebacker, Jevon Kearse, to defensive end; claiming a little used tight end, Frank Wycheck, from Washington; and trading down, then up to grab a Heisman-trophy-winning running back, Eddie George.”

Tennessee and Houston will kick off at noon CT on Sunday.

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See it: Titans’ helmet decal honoring the late Floyd Reese

Former Titans GM Floyd Reese passed away last week at the age of 73.

In honor of former general manager Floyd Reese, who passed away last week at the age of 73 after a long battle with cancer, the Tennessee Titans will wear a helmet decal during their preseason Week 3 contest against the Chicago Bears.

Reese held several positions during his two decades with the franchise, but was best known for his role in helping to build the Titans’ only Super Bowl team as the general manager, a position he held from 1994 through 2006.

The Oilers/Titans amassed 111 wins with Reese at the helm, the most under any general manager in franchise history.

He was responsible for hiring former head coach Jeff Fisher, the winningest coach in franchise history, and for drafting quarterback Steve McNair and running back Eddie George. All three were immensely important in the franchise’s Super Bowl XXXIV run.

Reese drafted a total of three former AP NFL Rookies of the Year in George (1996), defensive end Jevon Kearse (1999) and quarterback Vince Young (2006).

It was announced back in July that Reese would be honored in the team’s Ring of Honor this year. An official date has yet to be announced.

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Current and former Titans, rest of NFL mourn passing of Floyd Reese

Reese passed away at the age of 73 after a battle with cancer.

Current and former Tennessee Titans, as well as the rest of the NFL, are mourning the passing of former general manager Floyd Reese after it was announced he had died at the age of 73 on Saturday after a battle with cancer.

Reese held multiple positions with Tennessee, but saw the most success as its general manager, where he helped build the team that made the franchise’s only Super Bowl appearance. And, deservedly so, Reese was set to be inducted into the Titans’ Ring of Honor in 2021.

Upon learning of his passing, Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk and general manager Jon Robinson shared their thoughts and expressed their condolences, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.

“This is a sad day for our Titans family,” Strunk said. “I would like to send along my deepest condolences to Floyd’s wife, Sally, to his children, grandchildren and extended family. Floyd spent over two decades with our franchise in a variety of roles – position coach, assistant general manager and ultimately, general manager – and he excelled at all of them. As general manager, he built a team that saw sustained success and helped guide our franchise in the toughest of times and the highest moments. His keen eye for talent led him to some of the best players in our team’s history, which led the team to some of our greatest accomplishments. We look forward to remembering and honoring his legacy this season as he is formally inducted into our Ring of Honor.”

“I’m saddened to hear about the passing of Floyd Reese and my heartfelt condolences go out to Ms. Sally, the family, and all that were close to him,” Robinson said on Saturday. “He was a great man. He loved his family, he loved football, and he loved the Titans. I learned a lot from him, he was always willing to listen, and he wanted to pass on his knowledge of the game to me and so many others. I’m forever grateful that I could call him a friend. Thank you for everything Floyd, I’ll see you again someday!”

The man who coached that Super Bowl team Reese was responsible for building, Jeff Fisher, also reflected on his life and overall impact.

“Yesterday we lost one of the greatest football teammates anyone could ever have,” Fisher tweeted. “Floyd Reese was an exceptional human being — dedicated, driven and committed to his family, friends and football. My prayers are with Sally and the Reese family.”

Other former Titans and many more took to social media to mourn Floyd’s passing, which made clear that his impact was felt far and wide.

May he rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with Reese’s family and friends at this difficult time.

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Former Titans GM Floyd Reese passes away at 73

The winningest general manager in Titans franchise history passed away at the age of 73 on Saturday morning.

The man who drafted many of the iconic players in Tennessee Titans history and built the franchise’s only Super Bowl team has passed away.

The Titans announced former general manager Floyd Reese died Saturday morning at the age of 73.

Reese spent 21 years with the Titans and Oilers. He was the team’s general manager from 1994 to 2006.

According to the team, the franchise won 111 games during his tenure. Reese hired Jeff Fisher as coach and drafted running back Eddie George, defensive end Jevon Kearse and quarterback Steve McNair, all building-block members of the Titans team that advanced to Super Bowl XXXIV.

Jared Stillman of 102.5 FM in Nashville originally reported Reese’s passing.

Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk issued a statement on Reese’s passing.

“This is a sad day for our Titans family. I would like to send along my deepest condolences to Floyd’s wife, Sally, to his children, grandchildren and extended family. Floyd spent over two decades with our franchise in a variety of roles – position coach, assistant general manager and ultimately, general manager – and he excelled at all of them. As general manager, he built a team that saw sustained success and helped guide our franchise in the toughest of times and the highest moments. His keen eye for talent led him to some of the best players in our team’s history, which led the team to some of our greatest accomplishments. We look forward to remembering and honoring his legacy this season as he is formally inducted into our Ring of Honor.”

Reese left the Titans after the 2006 season.

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Titans to add Jeff Fisher, Floyd Reese, Bum Phillips to Ring of Honor

The Titans will now have 17 members in their Ring of Honor.

The Tennessee Titans will have three new additions to their Ring of Honor in 2021, as the team announced former head coaches Jeff Fisher and Bum Phillips, along with former general manager Floyd Reese, will all be honored.

Titans controlling owner, Amy Adams Strunk, released this statement along with the announcement, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online:

“I am so excited to recognize these important figures in our team’s history,” Adams Strunk said. “Each had a significant hand in the success of their eras. Bum was Texas through and through and led us to new heights as the ‘Luv Ya Blue’ era was born, reaching two AFC Championship games.

“Jeff won more games than any coach in franchise history, while also leading our football team through some difficult years as we moved to Tennessee – playing in four different home stadiums over a four-year period. His ability to connect with our players and our fans was unmatched and he too reached two AFC Championship games and helped take us to our only Super Bowl.

“Floyd was a great position coach for us during our run of success during the Run ‘n Shoot years and then transitioned to the front office, where he found even greater success. He had a great ability to find talent and take ‘chances’ to find sustained success – hiring a first-time head coach in Jeff Fisher; selecting a Division I-AA quarterback, Steve McNair, in the top five of the draft; converting a first-round linebacker, Jevon Kearse, to defensive end; claiming a little used tight end, Frank Wycheck, from Washington; and trading down, then up to grab a Heisman-trophy-winning running back, Eddie George.”

Fisher is arguably the greatest head coach in franchise history, and at the very least the best in the Titans era. His 142 wins over 17 seasons with the team is tops, and he’s responsible for taking the franchise to its only Super Bowl. He also led the team during its transition from Houston to Tennessee.

Phillips led the way for the Houston Oilers for six seasons (1975-1980) as its head coach, taking the team to a pair of AFC Championship contests during what is dubbed as the “Luv Ya Blue Era”. He also served as the team’s defensive coordinator in 1974.

After serving as the linebackers coach for the Oilers from 1986-1989, Reese took a position in the front office as assistant general manager and eventually worked his way up to executive vice president and general manager in 1994, positions he held until 2006.

Reese was responsible for the hire of Fisher, and together the pair led the Titans to a pair of AFC Championships and one Super Bowl appearance during what was one of the most successful periods in franchise history.

With Fisher, Reese and Phillips being added to the Ring of Honor, the Titans will now have 17 members.

The others 14 include K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr., Elvin Bethea, George Blanda, Robert Brazile, Earl Campbell, Eddie George, Mike Holovak, Ken Houston, Bruce Matthews, Steve McNair, Warren Moon, Mike Munchak, Jim Norton and Frank Wycheck all being recognized.

Phillips, who passed away in 2013, will be honored at the Sept. 26 game versus the Indianapolis Colts, while Fisher and Reese will be honored together at a later date that has yet to be revealed.