The Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans Debate

As the news of the Tennessee Titans plan to wear throwback uniforms during the 2023 season has circulated, so too has the debate about the franchise's history.

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

NASHVILLE - 'Bud' Adams founded the Houston Oilers in 1960, and the franchise called that city home for 36 seasons until Adams moved the team to Tennessee in 1996.   

This franchise sports a rich history from the Houston days, including 'Luv Ya Blue," Earl Campbell, Bum Phillips, and Dan Pastorini, to name a few. 

Some fans of the old Oilers consider the team's history in that city to belong to that city, regardless of where the franchise resides today. 

To that end, some of those same fans take offense when the current incarnation of their former team talks about wearing throwback jerseys in celebration of the franchise's history as the Oilers.  

Meanwhile, In Nashville, Titans fans love the history and nostalgia of their team and have embraced and love the old-school uniforms that helped define this franchise's time in Texas.  

This has created a debate between the old Oiler fans and the new Titans fans regarding the franchise's history.

Most Houston fans didn't like Adams much in the latter years of his tenure in Texas, and while they hated losing their team, they were okay with the team's owner leaving town.

At the same time, Titans fans immediately loved Adams for bringing NFL football to Nashville. When his franchise decided to wear "throwback uniforms" from his time in Houston, fans bought Oilers jerseys to accompany their Titans jersey.  

So who has the biggest claim to the history of this franchise in Texas? How about both?

Call me crazy-you wouldn't be the first- but there's enough room to share. 

The team's entire history belongs to the Adams family, and they have every right as the founder's family to display, acknowledge, and represent what Mr. Adams started so many years ago.   

The city of Houston also has the right to claim those times that happened in their town; after all, the team was named for that city where the franchise called home at that time. 

I get it that some Oilers fans are bitter. When their city returned to the NFL with the now Houston Texans franchise, that team was immediately put into the same division as their former franchise, creating discontent and a rivalry between the two organizations and cities.   

That rivalry has been mostly friendly over the years, but things get testy when the subject of the Titans wearing throwback uniforms rears its head. 

In the grand scheme of things, does it matter?

Fans in Houston should forget the past, embrace what's present and pay no attention to anything in Tennessee. After all, they now have the Texans, and the Oilers no longer exist.

However, I doubt anyone in Houston will care what I have to say, so I'm looking forward to the next round later this season when the Titans take the field in those old blue Oilers duds.  

Titans Related Stories

• COULD THE DEVALUATION OF RUNNING BACKS IN THE NFL HELP LEAD TO HENRY'S RETURN TO THE TITANS?: Considering that the value of the running back position in the NFL has declined in recent years and that three top running backs failed to reach long-term contract extensions with their current teams, could this help Derrick Henry return to the Titans to finish his career? CLICK HERE
• GIVE RAN CARTHON CREDIT AS HE CONTINUES TO MAKE MOVES AHEAD OF TITANS TRAINING CAMP: The new Titans general manager was left with some holes to fill, and while he didn't find all the answers in the first round of free agency, or the draft, he's recently added DeAndre Hopkins, and now possible offensive tackle George Fant. CLICK HERE
• SHOULD THE TITANS TAKE A LOOK AT RECEIVER DENZEL MIMS?: Mims, a former second-round pick of the New York Jets, will soon be released by the team that selected him. Should the Titans be interested enough to look at him as they continue to try to upgrade their roster? CLICK HERE