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Tennessee Titans

TennesseeTitans  Owner/President K.S. "Bud" Adams Jr. was one of the founding fathers of the AFL. (After the 1996 season, the Houston Oilers moved from Houston to Tennessee and in 2001 became the Titans.) Billy Cannon, the Heisman Trophy winner from Louisiana State, was the Oilers's and the AFL's first big-name signing. In 1960 and 1961, Houston won back-to-back AFL titles. The Oilers almost won a third straight title in 1962, but they lost a thrilling, double-overtime game to the Dallas Texans, 20-17. At the time, it was the longest professional football game ever played—77:54.

The Oilers/Titans  have qualified for the playoffs 15 times in the franchise's history. Since the AFL/NFL merger in 1970, Houston has reached the playoffs 10 times, including its most recent appearance in 1994. But the AFL championships the team won in the early 1960's are the only league titles the Oilers have won.

Among the many coaches who have led successful Oilers teams were Lou Rymkus, who guided them to their first championship in 1960 and Wally Lemm, who coached the 1961 AFL title team. "Bum" Phillips led the Oilers to three straight playoff appearances between 1979 and 1981, and between 1986 and 1989, Jerry Glanville took the Oilers to the postseason three times. In 1991 and 1993, Jack Pardee led Houston to its first division titles since the late 1960's.

Three former Oilers are now members of the Hall of Fame. The fabled George Blanda, who played 26 years and was the Oilers' quarterback from 1960 to 1966, was the first to be inducted in 1981. Ken Houston, one of the game's great safeties, was elected in 1986 and Earl Campbell, a pile-driving fullback from Texas, was picked in 1991.

Tennessee Titans/Oilers Facts

• · Franchise Granted August 14, 1959 as Charter Member of AFL
• · First Season 1960
• · First Season in Tennessee 1997
• · Stadium (1997) Liberty Bowl (62,380)
• · Owner
  K.S. "Bud Adams, Jr.
• · Executive Vice President/General Manager Floyd Reese
• · AFL Championships 1960, 1961
• · AFL Eastern Division Championships 1960, 1961, 1962, 1967
• · AFC Central Division Championships 1991, 1993, 2000
• · AFL Record 72 - 69 - 4
• · Retired Uniform Numbers #34 Earl Campbell, #43 Jim Norton, #63 Mike Munchak, #65 Elvin Bethea

• · First Players Signed Don Hitt and Tony Banfield, both of Oklahoma State, 12/8/59.
• · First Regular-Season Game A 37-22 victory over the Oakland Raiders, 9/11/60.
• · First Regular-Season Touchdown A 43-yard pass from Hall of Fame QB George Blanda to Charlie Hennigan vs. the Oakland Raiders, 9/11/60.
• · First Winning Season 1960 (10-4).
• · First Championship Game A 24-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers for the 1960 American Football League Championship.
• · First to Rush 200-yards in a Game Billy Cannon, 216 yards vs. the New York Jets, 12/10/61.
• · First 1,000-Yard Rusher Charley Tolar, 1,012 yards (1962).
• · First to Pass 400 Yards in a Game Jackie Lee, 457 yards vs. the Boston Patriots, 10/13/61.
• · First to Pass 4,000 Yards in a Season Warren Moon, 4,689 yards (1990).
• · First to Catch 100 Passes in a Season Charlie Hennigan, 101 receptions (1964).
• · First Oiler Elected to the Hall of Fame QB George Blanda, 1981.
• · Most Career Rushing Yards Earl Campbell, 8,574 yards (1978-84).
• · Most Career Passing Yards Warren Moon, 33,685 yards (1984-93).
• · Most Career Receptions Ernest Givins, 542 receptions (1986-94).
• · All-Time Leading Scorer George Blanda, 596 points (1960-66).
• · Most Lopsided Win A 55-0 victory over the Oakland Raiders, 9/9/61.
• · Original Home Field Jeppesen Stadium (capacity 35,500).

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