Tag: Houston Oilers

Tennessee Titans name new President/CEO after Steve Underwood retires

Steve Underwood served the franchise for 40 years.

Longtime Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans executive Steve Underwood is retiring.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle first reported the news of Underwood’s retirement after 40 years of serving the organization.

It was then confirmed by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, who shared this statement from Underwood.

“I couldn’t be more pleased about where we are as a business and as a football operation. I am deeply grateful to the Adams family for giving me the opportunity and privilege of working for both franchises — the Titans and Oilers.”

Underwood will now serve as a special advisor to the team’s controlling owner, Amy Adams Strunk, who had this to say about Underwood’s retirement, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.

“Steve’s remarkable 40-yr Oilers/Titans career places him among the titans of professional sports executives. His dedication to our franchise is unmatched and I am glad he will remain with us as a Senior Counselor.”

The Titans also announced that Burke Nihill will be elevated to President/CEO in Underwood’s place after he was promoted to Senior Vice President/Business Operations and Chief Legal Officer back in February.

“When Steve informed me that he was ready to step away from a full-time role, it was immediately clear to me that Burke was the best choice for the job,” Adams Strunk said of Nihill. “Since starting with the club as the General Counsel, Burke has continued to take on additional responsibilities to the point that he has become an invaluable resource and an absolute superstar for our organization. I have great confidence in him and his leadership, and I know that the future is bright for the team.”

Underwood originally retired in 2011 before returning to the organization in 2015 when he was named the interim President and CEO. That interim tag was then removed in 2016.

Since his return, the Titans have righted the ship after a 3-13 season in 2015 and have finished 9-7 in each of the past four seasons. Two of those seasons have included playoff berths, with the 2019 campaign ending in a trip to the AFC Championship Game.

Underwood also had a hand in bringing in general manager Jon Robinson (2016) and head coach Mike Vrabel (2018), a pairing that has proven to be successful.

Prior to his retirement in 2011, Underwood served as Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and COO during his four decades with the franchise.

[lawrence-related id=33541,33706,33677]

Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk releases statement on death of Ed Biles

The Titans’ controlling owner honored Biles in a statement.

Former Houston Oilers head coach Ed Biles died at age 88 on Sunday after a long battle with leukemia.

Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk released this statement to honor the memory of Biles, according to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.

“We are saddened to hear the news today that Ed Biles has passed away. In a decade of service to our franchise, which included time as head coach and defensive coordinator, he made significant contributions. His ‘Luv Ya Blue’ defenses were a key component in two AFC Championship game appearances. His energy and love of the game will be remembered. Our Oilers/Titans family sends condolences to his family.”

Biles was the Oilers’ head coach for two-plus seasons, from 1981-1983.

Before that, he served as Bum Phillips’ defensive coordinator and coached one of the best defenses in the NFL as the Oilers made back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances in 1978 and 1979.

After Biles’ coaching career was over, he became a mainstay at Houston charity events over the years, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

[lawrence-related id=30203,30153,30104]

Report: Former Oilers head coach Ed Biles has passed away at 88

Biles passed away after a long battle with Leukemia.

Former Houston Oilers defensive coordinator and head coach Ed Biles has passed away at the age of 88 after a battle with Leukemia.

The news comes from John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

Biles was the defensive coordinator under former Oilers head coach Bum Phillips, and together the pair helped take Houston to a pair of AFC Championship Games in 1978 and 1979.

During his tenure as the defensive coordinator, Biles oversaw an elite defense that was second to only the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steel Curtain”.

After Phillips was fired following the 1980 season, Biles took over as head coach for the next three seasons and compiled an 8-23 record.

[lawrence-related id=30104,30147,30136]

NFL playoffs: 5 incredible postseason comebacks

The Chiefs became part of NFL postseason history with their remarkable comeback against the Houston Texans.

The Kansas City Chiefs had been a victim of an amazing comeback when the Indianapolis Colts stunned them in 2014. The fans of Houston have to wonder what they did to deserve this … twice. First, the Oilers were rocked by the Bills in 1993. And on Sunday, the Chiefs overcame a 24-0 deficit to jar the Texans, 51-31. The Chiefs advance to the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 19, where they will play the Tennessee Titans, who used to be … the Houston Oilers.

1/3/93: Bills 41, Oilers 38

Getty Images

What has become known as “The Frank Reich Game,” saw the Bills fall behind the Houston Oilers, 28-3 at halftime on Jan. 3, 1993. Houston built the advantage to 32 points before momentum changed … and did it ever. The Bills charged back to take 38-35 lead only to see the Oilers come back to tie the game. Could they suffer doom, after all? No, as Steve Christie kicked a field goal in overtime and Buffalo advanced.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

‘The Comeback’ & ‘Music City miracle’ among best plays for vote in NFL history

Two of the final 16 moments that fans may vote on involve the Buffalo Bills. 

In celebration of the NFL’s centennial season, the league is giving fans a chance to vote on the top moments in the league over the past 100 years. Two of the final 16 moments that fans may vote on involve the Buffalo Bills.

Fans can vote on eight of the top 16 greatest moments in this round at NFL.com.

The Comeback

The Houston Oilers traveled to Rich Stadium to face the Bills in the 1992 Wild Card matchup. Buffalo was without quarterback Jim Kelly, who missed the game with a knee injury.

The Oilers thrashed the Bills early, taking a 28-3 lead at halftime. Houston quarterback Warren Moon threw four touchdowns in the first half. The Oilers added to their lead with a Bubba McDonnell interception return to give Houston a 35-3 lead early in the third quarter.

Buffalo then went on to score on five possessions, with a one-yard touchdown run from Kenneth Davis, followed by a touchdown reception by Don Bebee. Quarterback Frank Reich then found Andre Reed in the end zone three times, ultimately taking the lead 38-35.

Houston tied the game with a field goal late in the fourth quarter. Buffalo won the game in overtime with a Steve Christie 32-yard field goal.

The Music City miracle

The second moment on the list doesn’t conjure great feelings among the Bills faithful. The Titans’ most iconic play in the team’s history is one of the most controversial in Bills lore.

The Bills and Titans squared off in the 1999 Wild Card matchup in Nashville. The two teams were tightly matched all game, with the Bills taking the lead with 16 seconds remaining in the game on a Steve Christie field goal.

Buffalo special teams coordinator Bruce DeHaven called for Christie to squib kick the following kickoff. Frank Wycheck received the grounder, ran forward a few steps and chucked the lateral across the field to Kevin Dyson. Dyson returned the kick 75 yards, ultimately giving the Titans a 22-16 victory. The win would help propel the Titans to Super Bowl 34.

[lawrence-related id=53383,53377,53366,52450]

Warren Moon gave Texans QB Deshaun Watson encouragement before Bills playoff game

Former Houston Oilers QB Warren Moon gave Texans QB Deshaun Watson some encouragement on the eve of the AFC wild-card versus the Buffalo Bills.

The night before the Houston Texans took on the Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild-card Saturday at NRG Stadium, Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon sent quarterback Deshaun Watson some encouraging words.

Who knows what Moon told Watson specifically? Aside from both being franchise quarterbacks of their respective NFL teams in Houston, the two have shared a bond since Watson entering the league as a first-round pick in 2017.

“For him to take time out of his day, to take time out of his life and his career and his family to be able to just give me advice, to hit me up randomly and call me and whatever, whenever we see each other in the offseason, he always come up to me and talk to me,” Watson told reporters after the 22-19 overtime win against the Bills. “I mean, it’s special.”

Unlike Moon, who was subject to the Bills coming back against his Houston team, now known as the Tennessee Titans, in the 1992 AFC wild-card, Watson executed a comeback with the Texans, a totally separate franchise, to at least help Houston sports fans exorcise the demons of having Buffalo spoil their postseason dreams.

Watson couldn’t have had the opportunity if not for what Moon accomplished in his Hall of Fame career.

Said Watson: “For me to be able to look up to someone like that, and for him to pave the way for a lot of us young quarterbacks coming up, it’s special. So I definitely don’t take that for granted, and I appreciate him for sure.”

The city of Houston appreciates Watson, too, and his efforts to propel the Texans to the divisional round of the playoffs. Now, the Texans will take on another franchise that bested Moon in his last game in Houston: the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans travel to Arrowhead Stadium for a 2:05 p.m. CT kickoff on Jan. 12, and Watson could use more encouraging words from Moon.

Texans coach Bill O’Brien on Bills’ playoff comeback versus the Oilers: ‘That was 26 years ago’

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien sees zero correlation between the 1992 AFC wild-card between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers.

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien had to take a trip into the past before he could move forward with his Monday morning presser at NRG Stadium.

More specifically, O’Brien had to take a trip into the Tennessee Titans franchise’s past and answer a couple of questions relating to the 1992 AFC wild-card playoffs between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers.

“That’s one heck of a way to start off this deal,” O’Brien told reporters. “Oh man, that was 30 years ago almost, 26 years ago. Holy smokes. No, I think this is about this week and this is about the Houston Texans versus a very, very good Buffalo Bills team. So, I’m not going down that road. Holy smokes, that was 26 years ago.”

The Bills face the Texans at 3:35 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Even though the Titans own all of the records and history of the Oilers, including that ignominious playoff loss where they blew a 35-3 third quarter lead and lost 41-38 in overtime, the colossal letdown was a part of Houston’s sports history, playing a part in the Bayou City being known as “Choke City,” especially after the Houston Rockets fell down 2-0 to the Phoenix Suns in the 1994 NBA Western Conference semifinals.

However, that’s all on the late Bud Adams, founder of the Oilers who moved the franchise to Tennessee in 1997. That is on the Titans franchise to have to bear.

“I think, again, 26 years ago,” O’Brien said. “The game will be played in 2020. So, we got a lot of work to do, we’ve got a very tough opponent coming in here that’s played very well. Very well coached, got a lot of respect for [Bills coach] Sean (McDermott) and his staff and how they do things. So, we’ve got a big week here.”

The Bills have not won a playoff game since they defeated the Miami Dolphins 37-22 in the 1995 AFC wild-card. The Texans have won three playoff games since their 2002 inception.

The Titans franchise blew a 35-3 lead to the Bills in the 1992 AFC wild-card, not the Texans

The Buffalo Bills beat the Houston Oilers, the future Tennessee Titans, in the 1992 AFC wild-card, not the Houston Texans.

Get ready for it this week.

“In the 1992 AFC wild-card, the Buffalo Bills rallied from 35-3 to beat the Houston Oilers.”

So what? What does that have anything to do with the Houston Texans?

Yes, both the Oilers and the Texans share the same city, Houston, but they are no more connected than the Ravens and Colts are, even though both played ball in Baltimore, or the Rams and Browns are, even though both won championships in Cleveland.

One of the big reminders that gets thrown in the face of Houston sports fans like mace full of bad memories that the Tennessee Titans own the records, jerseys, and history of the Oilers. Amy Adams Strunk reminded everyone of that in the offseason when J.J. Watt expressed interest in wearing Oilers throwbacks sometime.

If the Titans want to own Oilers history so bad, they can own that ignominious playoff loss to backup quarterback Frank Reich. It has no place in Texans franchise history. What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

How inequitable is it that the city of Houston can have no piece of the Oilers legacy aside from the Astrodome that Bud Adams demanded have luxury boxes installed in 1986 or else he would move the team? But if it’s a horrible playoff loss in the history of pro football, oh, sure the Texans can have that demon haunting the tunnels at NRG Stadium.

Let the past die, or at least let the Titans have the past.

The Texans won’t be reliving the failures of the Oilers on Saturday at 3:35 p.m. when they take on the Bills. They will be creating their own new failures or establishing a brand new avenue of postseason season excellence.

The Titans blew a 35-3 lead to the Bills nearly 26 years ago, not the Texans.