Honoring A Franchise Legend, The Tyler Rose

Earl Christian Campbell, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history and the original Heisman Trophy-winning Oilers/Titans battering ram, turns 68 on Wednesday.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

NASHVILLE - The Tyler Rose was a nickname given to Earl Campbell during his rise to stardom as a star football player in his hometown of Tyler, Texas.    

The sixth of eleven siblings, Campbell began playing football in the fifth grade shortly after the passing of his father, Bert. He started his hall-of-fame career not as a punishing running back but as a kicker. 

His love of the game and watching Dick Butkus player inspired him to move to linebacker, which was a better fit than kicker, but ultimately not his final destination.  

For those old enough to have seen and remember Campbell bursting onto the college football scene in 1974 with the Texas Longhorns, he was a force unlike anything these young eyes had ever seen on a football field.  

Standing just 5'11" and 232 lbs, Campbell wasn't the most imposing figure until you witnessed players far bigger than he struggle to tackle him. 

Before arriving in Austin, Campbell led his John Tyler High School squad to the 1973 Texas 4-A state championship and cemented his place as a high school legend.  

Campbell lived up to that legend as a Longhorn, leading them to the brink of a national championship in 1977, when he rushed for a career, and nations best 1,744 yards and 19 touchdowns en route to winning the first Heisman Trophy in school history. He finished his college career with 4,443 rushing yards and 40 rushing touchdowns in 40 games through four seasons.

Campbell was even better in the NFL, as during the course of his eight-year career, he gained 9,407 yards, found the goal line 74 times, and was named the NFL MVP in 1979. 

Along the way, Campbell was named rookie of the year in 1978, offensive player of the year three times,  three-time first-team all-pro, and a five-time Pro-Bowler. 

Earl Campbell (seated) and former Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young.   / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Some of Campbell's other accolades include being a three-time NFL rushing leader, two-time rushing touchdown leader, a member of the NFL's 1970's All-Decade team, and even more importantly, a member of the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. 

The Houston Oiler retired his No.34 on August 13, 1987. His No.20 jersey was also retired by the University of Texas. 

Campbell was inducted into the College Football Hall-of-Fame in 1990 and the NFL Hall-of-Fame in 1991. 

Former Oilers/Titans owner Bud Adams was asked if Campbell was in a league of his own, to which Adams replied, "I dunno. Ut if he ain't, it don't take long to call the roll."

Though Campbell never played a down for the Titans version of the franchise, his name hangs above Nissan Stadium and in the front lobby of Saint Thomas Sports Park as one of the greatest players in NFL and Oilers/Titans history. 

Happy 68th Birthday, Earl Christian Campbell, and may your day be great! It was a pleasure to have watched you play the game! 

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