Titans Franchise Five Oilers greats feature prominently in HoustonTennessee list of legends
The are truly one of the most interesting franchises in the NFL. Originally known as the Houston Oilers, they began as a charter member of the American Football League in 1960 and were also owned by oilman Bud Adams. They appeared in the first three AFL Championships, winning the first two and then took the Dallas Texans to double overtime before falling in the third.Over the next couple of decades, several NFL legends came through Houston, but change was on the horizon. Following the 1995 season, Adams announced he would be moving the team to Nashville in the near future. They were known as the Tenne see Oilers from 1997-98, and then finally when their stadium was ready in Nashville."We wanted a new nickname to reflect strength, leadership and other heroic qualities," Adams said. It didn't take them long to find succe s, as they went 13-3 during the 1999 season and made it all the way to the Super Bowl XXXIV, where they came up just a single yard short against Kurt Warner and the St. Louis .There are several legends who donned the two-tone blue over the past couple of decades. Players like Steve McNair, Eddie
Liam Eichenberg Jersey George and Bruce Matthews took their talents from Houston to Nashville, and there were also others that came along and helped the Titans more recently, such as running back -- who rushed for 2,006 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2009. But when identifying the best players in Titans/Oilers history, it's hard not to pay homage to the legends of old. Only four of the 17 Hall of Famers that have come through this franchise actually played for the "Titans."CBSSports.com's Franchise Five series dives into five most impactful people in each NFL's team history. Our rules here allow us to pick one head coach, one quarterback and three non-quarterback players. Let's take a look back at some of the men that have made this franchise special. Coach Jeff FisherOilers/Titans career: 1994-2010When selecting the best coach in Titans/Oilers history, it was an easy decision. No one has coached more games (262), recorded more wins (142) and won more playoff games (5) for the Titans/Oilers than Jeff Fisher. "The Stache" spent le s than one season as the Oilers' defensive coordinator before being promoted to interim head coach when Jack Pardee was fired in the middle of the 1994 campaign. The Oilers ended up retaining Fisher, and it was a franchise-altering move.With the No. 3 overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft that offseason, the Titans took a flier on a star quarterback out of Alcorn State: Steve McNair. With that selection, McNair became the highest drafted African-American quarterback in NFL history -- and while he didn't play right away -- he ended up becoming one of the most important quarterbacks in Titans' history. Fisher then selected running back Eddie George the following year, who would be equally important for the Titans' move to Nashville.After a 7-9 season during his first year followed up by three straight 8-8 seasons, the wins started rolling in. The Titans went 13-3 and made it all the way to the Super Bowl in 1999, but fell one yard short of a win. In 2000, Fisher recorded yet another 13-3 regular season but fell in the divisional round. In all, Fisher would record six double-digit win seasons and was instrumental in helping the franchise adjust to a
Shaquem Griffin Jersey new location, fan base and team name. QB Warren MoonOilers career: 1984-93Moon played for four NFL teams, but he found the most succe s with the Oilers. The former Canadian Football League star won the Grey Cup five times and Grey Cup MVP twice before entering the NFL. The Oilers won the bidding war for the previously undrafted signal-caller out of Washington, and it ended up being a great decision for the franchise.Moon initially struggled in the NFL, but did throw for a franchise-record 3,338 yards in his first season. He would improve as the years went on, however, and threw for 4,689 yards, 33 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions during the 1990 season. The very next year, Moon topped his career-high by a
Austin Reiter Jersey single yard, throwing for 4,690 yards.In 10 seasons with the Oilers, Moon set what was then a franchise record with Houston for wins (70) and also became the franchise leader in pa sing yards, pa sing touchdowns and completions before being traded to the . When Moon retired in January 2001, he had made nine Pro Bowls, led the league in pa sing yards two times and was in the top five all-time in pa sing yards and pa sing touchdowns. The Titans retired his No. 1 jersey, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. RB Earl CampbellOilers career: 1978-84"The Tyler Rose" was truly one of the best running backs in NFL history. During his collegiate career at the University of Texas, Campbell rushed for 4,443 yards and 40 touchdowns in just 40 games. The originally held the No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft, but traded it to the Oilers for several picks and tight end Jimmie Giles. Not only did Campbell win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award after rushing for a league-leading 1,450 yards in his rookie season, he also was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Year and league MVP by some outlets such as Pro Football Writers of America.In his second season, Campbell upped the ante by rushing for 1,697 yards and 19 touchdowns. This time the AP did award him MVP. What was incredible is that Campbell again improved in his third season, rushing for a career-high 1,934 yards and 13 touchdowns. He averaged 128.9 yards per game and an astounding 5.2 yards per carry. Campbell would record two more 1,000-yard seasons over the next three years, but was traded to the for a first-round pick in 1985.Campbell was one of the most relentle s runners in NFL history. He didn't run around defenders, but simply over them. To lead the league in rushing yards in each of your first three seasons is absolutely absurd -- especially considering his running style. During his career, Campbell mi sed only six games due to injuries. Them: What was so special about Earl Campbell?Me: Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) Campbell made five Pro Bowls, was a first-team All-Pro three times and had his jersey retired by the Oilers. In 1991, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In seven seasons with the Oilers, Campbell rushed for 8,574 yards and 73 touchdowns while maintaining an average of 4.3 yards per carry. Not only was he one of the best running backs to ever play the game, he was one of the best players ever at any position.OL Bruce MatthewsOilers/Titans career: 1983-2001Bruce Matthews wasn't just a left tackle or a guard or a center, he was an offensive lineman. After going No. 9 overall in the 1983 NFL Draft
Mark Duper Jersey , Matthews played guard and blocked for Campbell, but then moved to center and snapped to Moon. Over his career, he would play all five positions along the offensive line. Matthews made his most starts at guard (99 on the left side, and 67 as the right guard) and center (87). He also started 22 games as the team's right tackle and 17 at left tackle.Matthews was a key cog in the Oilers and Titans offensive line for nearly two decades and made 14 straight Pro Bowls from 1988 to 2001. Those 14 consecutive Pro Bowls (nine at guard, five at center) tied Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen for the most ever. Offensive linemen don't get much glory in this game, but Matthews is truly one of the best players in Oilers and Titans history. " ... the fear of getting beat," Matthews once said. "It's not so much throwing a great block that springs a guy for a touchdown. It's more ... don't get beat for a sack, don't be the guy who causes the running back to get blown up, don't be the guy who makes the mental error that causes Steve (McNair) to get blindsided."DE Elvin BetheaOilers career: 1968-83Bethea somehow lasted until the third round in the 1968 NFL Draft, and the Oilers were the team that ended up securing a huge steal. The first year the Oilers started recording tackles was 1974, six years into Bethea's career. Even with six years removed from his 16 seasons in the NFL, Bethea's 691 career tackles are , according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Bethea made eight Pro Bowls and played in 210 games, all for the Oilers. What made him so special was that he was effective as a pa s rusher and also as a run stopper. Additionally, he was extremely durable -- an absolute stalwart on
Mack Hollins Jersey the defensive line. Bethea holds the franchise record for career sacks (105) and sacks in a season (17 in 1973). He also has the franchise record of 26 games with more than one sack. Bethea's No. 65 was retired by the Titans and he was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.