Tag: Houston Oilers

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.

Titans have new all-time sacks leader after PFR update

Thanks to Pro Football Reference, the Titans’ top 10 sacks leaders has changed, including No. 1.

Two folks over at Pro Football Reference, John Turney and Nick Webster, have worked tirelessly to record sacks compiled between 1960 and 1981, before they were an official stat — and their research shows that the Tennessee Titans have a new all-time leader in the category.

Defensive end Elvin Bethea, who played for the Houston Oilers from 1968 through 1983, now tops the list with 105, surpassing the previous franchise leader, defensive lineman Ray Childress, who had 75.5.

According to Pro Football Reference, Bethea, a Hall of Famer and eight-time Pro Bowler, totaled 88 sacks from 1969 through 1976, including six campaigns with double-digit sacks, and a career-high 16 in 1973.

But the top spot in Titans franchise history wasn’t the only one impacted by this update. Here’s a look at the top 10, both before and after (an asterisk denotes a new addition to the top 10, or a player who has moved up).

Before

  1. Ray Childress – 75.5
  2. William Fuller – 59.0
  3. Sean Jones – 57.5
  4. Jevon Kearse – 52.0
  5. Jurrell Casey – 51.0
  6. Derrick Morgan – 44.5
  7. Kyle Vanden Bosch – 38.5
  8. Jesse Baker – 34.0
  9. Brian Orakpo – 26.0
  10. Henry Ford and Albert Haynesworth – 24.0

After

  1. Elvin Bethea – 105.0*
  2. Ray Childress – 75.5
  3. Jesse Baker – 66.0*
  4. William Fuller – 59.0
  5. Sean Jones – 57.5
  6. Jevon Kearse – 52.0
  7. Jurrell Casey – 51.0
  8. Robert Brazile – 48.0*
  9. Ted Washington – 45.0*
  10. Derrick Morgan – 44.5

Outside linebackers Robert Brazile and Ted Washington are now both in the top 10, while defensive end Jesse Baker has moved up to No. 3.

Defensive end Jevon Kearse, defensive tackle Jurrell Casey and outside linebacker Derrick Morgan, the three Titans era sacks leaders, were all negatively impacted by the stat update and have moved down the list.

Four more Titans era defenders, linebacker Brian Orakpo, defensive tackles Albert Haynesworth and Henry Ford (Ford also played for the Oilers), and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch are now completely out of the top 10.

Titans history as we know it has changed.

[lawrence-related id=66799,66781,66753]

[vertical-gallery id=66495]

Titans players hyped to wear Oilers throwbacks after NFL changes helmet rule

The door is now open for the Titans to wear Oilers throwbacks down the road.

The NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams on Thursday revealing that the helmet rule that has deterred the Tennessee Titans from wearing their Houston Oilers throwbacks would be changed.

According to the memo, starting in 2022 teams can use a secondary helmet, which wasn’t allowed previously for safety reasons. However, clubs must notify the league by July 31, 2021 of their intent to use an alternate helmet next season.

This opens the door for the Titans to wear their full Oilers throwbacks, which controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk didn’t want to do in the past because, as she rightly pointed out back in 2019, Titans helmets with Oilers jerseys “just wouldn’t make sense.”

“I would personally like to, but I don’t want to go there until we can have another helmet to go with it… that uniform without that helmet just wouldn’t make sense,” Adams Strunk explained.

Shortly after the news of the rule change broke, Titans running back Derrick Henry and left tackle Taylor Lewan, both of whom have lobbied to wear Oilers jerseys in the past, were understandably hyped.

Lewan is getting a bit ahead of himself, as the Titans are unlikely to wear the Oilers throwbacks in 2021 because the rule change doesn’t take effect until 2022.

And to complicate things further, teams like the Titans might have limited options at best until 2023, as Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio explained.

According to the memo disseminated on Thursday by the NFL, all teams must decide and declare by July 31 whether they’ll be using a second helmet in 2022. Complicating matters for the various teams is that “the notice date for 2022 uniform changes has passed and no new uniforms can be developed for the 2022 season, other than those previously approved by the League Office for the 2022 season.”

This means that, for example, the Patriots won’t be able to adopt for 2022 an alternate uniform based on their Pat Patriot throwbacks, making the return of a white helmet impractical before 2023. Ditto for the Tampa Bay creamsicle uniforms, the light blue Oilers helmet as an alternative to the Titans’ uniform, and any other alternate helmets that make no sense without an alternate set of jerseys and pants.

Whenever the Titans are able to swing it, they absolutely should bring back the Oilers jerseys. After all, there is no sweeter throwback in the NFL.

[lawrence-related id=65723,65717,65712]

[listicle id=65511]

The NFL will allow alternate helmets again in 2022

The NFL is deciding to have fun again!

The NFL announced on Thursday that it would allow teams to wear alternate helmets again starting in 2022. The NFL disallowed the use of alternate helmets in 2013, citing safety concerns of players having to fit in multiple helmets instead of one that could be used for the entire season.

Now, the league is able to bring back some of the classic looks that define the history of the league itself. In order to stay true to their concerns of safety, players helmets must be the same make and model across their different colors.

The throwback uniforms are something that have been greatly missed over the past decade of NFL football, adding a little flair and fashion to the action every Sunday. Here are a few classic looks that people are excited to see again starting in 2022.

[mm-video type=video id=01f8zdh5w5v1yrgee9f8 playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f8zdh5w5v1yrgee9f8/01f8zdh5w5v1yrgee9f8-bc8f491bd917930068b2a8226002f89f.jpg]

Titans great Bruce Matthews’ incredible longevity summed up in one stat

Bruce Matthews remains one of the greatest players in Titans/Oilers history.

When you think of the very best players in Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise history, Hall-of-Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews is right up there near the top of the list.

Matthews spent his entire career with the Oilers, and then the Titans, after being drafted in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft, wearing many hats upfront for the franchise and excelling with all of them.

On top of that, Matthews displayed legendary longevity, as he lasted 19 seasons and played until the age of 40, which is almost unthinkable in this day and age, let alone for an offensive lineman.

Making his career even more impressive is the fact that Matthews was still near the top of his game at his advanced age, as he started all 16 games during his final campaign and made the Pro Bowl.

CBS Sports recently posted an interesting tidbit about Matthews. Despite not making his first Pro Bowl until the age of 27, Matthews still managed to finish tied for the most appearances in the game in NFL history, all of which came in his final 14 seasons.

At the time of Matthews’ retirement, only Los Angeles Rams great Merlin Olsen had achieved 14 Pro Bowl appearances.

Since then, tight end Tony Gonzalez and quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have joined this group. Brady, who is the only active player on this list, could break the record in 2021.

[lawrence-related id=63595,63563,63557]

[listicle id=63509]

Titans release statement on passing of original Oiler Al Jamison

Jamison’s NFL career was only three seasons, but he still made a huge impact.

The Tennessee Titans have released a statement after the death of one of the original Houston Oilers, left tackle Al Jamison, who passed away at the age of 83, one week before his 84th birthday.

 “We are saddened to hear about the passing of Al Jamison,” the statement from controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk read. “An original Oiler in 1960, he was our first left tackle and part of two AFL Championships. After retiring as a player, he settled in Texas and served his community. We send out condolences to his family and friends as we remember a life well lived.

Jamison, who was one of the original members of the Oilers in the AFL, only played three seasons because of a back injury that forced him to retire but still managed to make a huge impact.

The Colgate product started in all 42 games over that span and was a two-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-Team All-Pro. He also played a key role in the franchise’s back-to-back AFL Championships in 1960 and 1961.

After his playing days were over, Jamison started a construction business in Texas and also served as a county judge for 12 years.

[lawrence-related id=62997,62989,62985]

[listicle id=62971]

Tennessee Titans’ NFL draft history with 205th overall pick

Who has the franchise selected at No. 205 in NFL draft history?

One of the Tennessee Titans’ nine picks in the upcoming 2021 NFL draft will come in the sixth round at No. 205 overall, the first of two picks the team has in the round this year.

It’s a spot the franchise has chosen from twice before, once in 1977 as the Houston Oilers, and once as the Tennessee Oilers in 1998.

With their first 205th overall selection, the Oilers chose a wide receiver out of Houston named Eddie Foster. The wideout posted 15 catches for 208 yards in his rookie campaign, but didn’t see the field in 1978 and played in just one game in 1979, his last in the NFL.

Things didn’t any better in 1998, as the Oilers — this time from Tennessee — selected linebacker Jimmy Sprotte.

The Arizona product never took the field for Tennessee and played in just nine games over his two-year NFL career, all of which came with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Clearly we shouldn’t be expecting much from this draft spot for the Titans, but perhaps general manager Jon Robinson can pull out some late-round magic like we’ve seen him do during his tenure in Nashville.

The 2021 NFL draft begins on April 29, and the Titans will be making their pick at No. 205 on Day 3, which will take place on May 1.

[lawrence-related id=61958,61879,61884]

[listicle id=61829]

Why humble A.J. Brown won’t be switching jersey number

Titans WR A.J. Brown wore No. 1 with Ole Miss in college.

Despite the NFL relaxing the policy on jersey numbers certain positions can wear, don’t expect Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown to try and capitalize on it.

The new policy, which was suggested by the Kansas City Chiefs and was reportedly approved by owners recently, allows running backs, receivers, tight ends, linebackers, and defensive backs to wear single-digit numbers.

Brown figured to be a candidate to change his number because he wore No. 1 in college, but first he’d have to ask Houston Oilers great and Hall-of-Fame quarterback Warren Moon, who had his jersey number retired by the organization back in 2006, for permission.

But that’s not something Brown is ready to do, and he explained why on Twitter, basically saying he isn’t worthy of Moon’s number, showing his humble side once again.

It’s always great to see a young rising star player like Brown show his respect for those who came before him.

The Ole Miss product is doing just fine with No. 11 anyway and may end up having it retired alongside Moon when his career is all said and done if he remains on his current trajectory.

Even if Moon gave Brown the OK, he’d still have more to do in order to make the switch for this season.

According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, the NFL would require Brown, or any player changing their number in 2021, to buy out the existing stock of jersey distributors, which figures to be costly. That won’t be required for players who make a number change in 2022, though.

[lawrence-related id=61640,61634,61576]

[vertical-gallery id=61527]

Tennessee Titans’ NFL draft history with the 126th overall pick

Of the four players, only two played in a game with the franchise.

After not owning a fourth-round pick in last year’s event, the Tennessee Titans will be making a selection in the round during the 2021 NFL draft.

The Titans’ last fourth-round selection came in 2019 when the team drafted safety Amani Hooker, who is set to take over one of the starting safety spots in 2021 after the departure of fellow safety, Kenny Vaccaro.

As far as the specific spot they are drafting from goes (No. 126 overall), it’s a pick Tennessee has owned four times in franchise history. Those picks came in 1964 and 1990 as the Houston Oilers, and then again in 2003 and 2008 as the Titans.

Of those four picks, only two of them actually played in a game with the team. Let’s take a closer look.

The players Titans have drafted at No. 22 overall in franchise history

The Titans have held the No. 22 overall pick four times in franchise history.

The Tennessee Titans were bounced from the playoffs in the first round after an 11-5 season and an AFC South title, leading to their owning the No. 22 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

The Titans have owned this specific four times in franchise history. Three of those selections came when they were the Houston Oilers in 1963, 1964 and 1988, and then the Titans had that pick once again in 2018.

The first two, running back Jerry Cook (1963) out of Texas and offensive tackle Bobby Crenshaw (1964) out of Baylor, were both third-round picks in the AFL draft and neither player ever suited up for the Oilers.

In 1988, the Oilers selected running back Lorenzo White in the first round of the NFL draft. The Michigan State product spent seven seasons with the franchise.

White compiled 1,000 carries for 4,242 yards and 29 touchdowns during his Houston tenure, with his best season coming in 1992 when he finished with 1,226 yards, seven scores and a Pro Bowl nod.

White broke the 700-yard mark two other times, but never reached 1,000 yards or more again. He ended up moving on to play for the Cleveland Browns in 1995, his last season in the league.

In 2018, the Titans picked Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans, who just completed his third season in the two-tone blue in 2020.

Evans showed plenty of promise during his first two seasons, and especially in his sophomore campaign in 2019, when he finished second on the team in tackles with 111, tallied 2.5 sacks and was a force against the run.

Unfortunately for Tennessee, Evans took a step back last year, as his season was marred by ineffective play and a team-high eight penalties. His fifth-year option, which once looked like a lock to be picked up, is now in question. The Titans will have to decide by May what to do with their linebacker.

Overall, the Titans have gotten a few solid players in the spot they’re set to pick during the 2021 NFL draft, but none qualifies as a home-run pick. General manager Jon Robinson can change that on April 29.

[lawrence-related id=56950,56955,56936]

[listicle id=56846]