Tennessee Titans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tennessee Titans
Current season
Logo Wordmark Uniforms
Basic info
Established	August 14, 1959; 65 years ago (August 14, 1959)
Stadium	Nissan Stadium Nashville, Tennessee
Headquartered	Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park Nashville, Tennessee
Colors	Titans blue, navy, red, silver, white
Mascot	T-Rac
Personnel
Owner(s)	Amy Adams Strunk
Chairman	Susie Adams Smith Amy Adams Strunk
CEO	Burke Nihill
President	Burke Nihill
General manager	Mike Borgonzi
Head coach	Brian Callahan
Team history
Houston Oilers (1960–1996) Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998) Tennessee Titans (1999–present)
Home fields
Jeppesen Stadium (1960–1964) Rice Stadium (1965–1967) Houston Astrodome (1968–1996) Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (1997) Vanderbilt Stadium (1998) Nissan Stadium (1999–present)
League / conference affiliations
American Football League Eastern Division (1960–1969) National Football League (1970–present) American Football Conference (1970–present) AFC Central (1970–2001) AFC South (2002–present)
Championships
League championships: 2 AFL championships (pre-1970 AFL–NFL merger) (2) 1960, 1961
Conference championships: 1 AFC: 1999
Division championships: 11 AFL Eastern: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1967 AFC Central: 1991, 1993, 2000 AFC South: 2002, 2008, 2020, 2021
Playoff appearances (25)
AFL: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1969 NFL: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021
Owner(s)
Bud Adams (1959–2013) Amy Adams Strunk (2013–present)

The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team. They are based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans play in the National Football League (NFL). They are part of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Their home games are played at Nissan Stadium. A new stadium is planned to open in 2027.

The team started in 1959 as the Houston Oilers. They were founded by Bud Adams. The Oilers began playing in Houston, Texas, in 1960. They were one of the first teams in the American Football League (AFL). The Houston Oilers won the first two AFL championships. They also won four division titles. In 1970, they joined the NFL as part of the AFL–NFL merger. Famous players like Earl Campbell and Warren Moon led the team to the playoffs.

In 1997, the team moved to Nashville, Tennessee. They played one season in Memphis, Tennessee, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. In 1998, they moved to Nashville's Vanderbilt Stadium. For these two seasons, they were called the Tennessee Oilers. In 1999, they changed their name to the Tennessee Titans. This was when they moved into their new stadium, now called Nissan Stadium.

The Tennessee Titans played in Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. They lost 23–16 to the St. Louis Rams. Led by Steve McNair and Eddie George, the Titans made the playoffs often from 1999 to 2003. More recently, from 2016 to 2021, they had six winning seasons in a row. They also made the playoffs four times. The Titans are the only NFL team to have two players rush for 2,000 yards in a season. These players were Chris Johnson in 2009 and Derrick Henry in 2020.

Team History and Milestones

The Houston Oilers Years (1960–1996)

The Houston Oilers were founded in 1959. They were one of the first eight teams in the American Football League (AFL). The team first played at Jeppesen Stadium. Then they moved to Rice Stadium in 1965. Quarterback George Blanda led the team to the first three AFL championship games. The Oilers won the first two AFL championships. They beat the San Diego Chargers both times. In 1962, they lost to the Dallas Texans (now Kansas City Chiefs) in double overtime.

After some tough seasons, the Oilers made it back to the AFL championship game in 1967. They lost to the Oakland Raiders. After that season, the Oilers moved into the Astrodome. This made them the first pro football team to play in a domed stadium. In 1969, they made the playoffs again but lost to the Oakland Raiders.

In 1970, the AFL joined with the NFL. The Houston Oilers became part of the new American Football Conference (AFC). They were placed in the Central division. The team struggled for several years. In 1978, the Oilers drafted running back Earl Campbell. He was the first pick overall. Campbell led the team to the playoffs three years in a row (1978-1980). He was the best rusher in the NFL during those years. The Oilers reached the AFC championships in 1978 and 1979. However, they lost both times to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Oilers had a tough time again from 1981 to 1987. Then, quarterback Warren Moon joined the team in 1987. With Moon and Hall of Fame linemen Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews, the Oilers made the playoffs six times in a row. This was from 1987 to 1993. In the 1992–93 NFL playoffs, the Oilers had a huge lead against the Buffalo Bills. They were up by 32 points in the third quarter. But they lost 41–38 in overtime. This is still the biggest lead ever lost in a playoff game. After the 1993 season, Moon was traded. The Oilers then had a very bad season, winning only 2 games. They drafted quarterback Steve McNair and running back Eddie George. These players became very important for the team.

Moving to Tennessee: The Oilers (1997–1998)

After the 1995 season, the team's owner, Bud Adams, announced the move to Tennessee. A new stadium in Nashville would not be ready until 1999. So, the team played two seasons at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was based in Nashville. Players had to travel to Memphis for games.

During their time in Memphis, very few fans came to the games. Some games had fewer than 18,000 people. This was some of the smallest NFL crowds since the 1950s.

For the 1998 season, the team played its home games in Nashville. They used the stadium at Vanderbilt University. That year, the team almost made the playoffs. They finished with an 8–8 record. They won 6 games in Nashville and 2 games on the road.

Becoming the Tennessee Titans (1999–Present)

Before the 1999 season, the team decided on a new name. On November 14, 1998, they became the Tennessee Titans. The name "Titans" was chosen because Nashville is called the "Athens of the South." This is due to its classical buildings and many colleges.

The 1999 season was amazing for the Titans. They made it all the way to Super Bowl XXXIV. Coach Jeff Fisher and quarterback Steve McNair led the team to a 13–3 record. In the playoffs, they had a famous win called the "Music City Miracle." A last-second play on a kickoff led to a touchdown. The Titans reached the Super Bowl but lost to the St. Louis Rams. They were just one yard short of tying the game.

After the Super Bowl, the Titans had mixed success. They made the playoffs several times in the early 2000s. Players like Eddie George and Jevon Kearse played very well. But the team struggled to stay consistent. After George and McNair left, the Titans drafted quarterback Vince Young in 2006. He led the team to the playoffs in 2007. In 2008, veteran Kerry Collins led the Titans to a great 13–3 record. They made the playoffs but lost.

In 2009, running back Chris Johnson had an incredible season. He ran for over 2,000 yards. He broke a record for total yards from scrimmage. After 2010, many key players and coaches left. The team struggled for a few years.

In 2015, the Titans drafted quarterback Marcus Mariota. He became the team's main quarterback. With players like Delanie Walker, Taylor Lewan, and Jurrell Casey, the Titans had winning records from 2016 to 2018. In 2017, they returned to the playoffs. They won their first playoff game since 2003. They came back from a big deficit against the Kansas City Chiefs.

In 2018, Mike Vrabel became the new head coach. In 2019, quarterback Ryan Tannehill took over as the starter. Running back Derrick Henry became a huge star. He led the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns. The team reached the AFC Championship Game that season.

Derrick Henry won the Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2020. He rushed for over 2,000 yards again. The Titans won their division with an 11–5 record. In 2021, they won their division again with a 12–5 record. They even got a first-round bye in the playoffs. However, they lost in the Divisional Round. In 2022 and 2023, the team had losing seasons. After the 2023 season, Coach Vrabel was fired. Brian Callahan was hired as the new head coach.

Team Look: Logos and Uniforms

The Tennessee Titans uniforms used from 1999 to 2017.

When the team started as the Houston Oilers in 1960, their logo was an oil rig. This logo stayed mostly the same until 1999. It was sometimes called "Ol' Riggy."

The Oilers' uniforms were blue or white jerseys. They had red trim and white pants. For some years, they wore silver pants to match their helmets. They also sometimes wore light blue pants on the road. Coach Jeff Fisher stopped using the light blue pants in 1995. The helmets changed colors over the years too.

From 1997 to 1998, as the Tennessee Oilers, they had a different logo. It mixed parts of the flag of Tennessee with the oil rig. They also wore white uniforms for home games.

When the team became the Titans in 1999, they got a new logo. It was a circle with three stars. These stars stand for the three main parts of Tennessee. Inside the circle was a big "T" with flames. This was a nod to the Greek Titans, who were said to have brought fire to humans. Their uniforms were white helmets, red trim, and navy or white jerseys. They wore white pants with navy jerseys and navy pants with white jerseys. The shoulders of the jerseys were light Titans blue.

In 2003, the Titans added a light Titans blue alternate jersey. They often wore this jersey, especially against the Houston Texans. This showed their connection to Houston and the AFL. In 2006, they started wearing light Titans blue pants. They even wore an all-Titans blue uniform sometimes.

From 2008 to 2014, the light Titans blue jersey was their main home uniform. Then, in 2015, navy blue became the main home jersey color again.

On April 4, 2018, the Titans showed off new uniforms. They kept the navy blue, Titans blue, and white colors. But they added new red and silver parts. The new helmets are navy blue with a silver sword-shaped stripe.

On July 23, 2023, the Titans brought back the old powder blue Oilers uniforms for special games. However, for the 2025 season, the light Titans blue jersey became the main home jersey again.

Team Rivalries

The Titans have rivalries with the other teams in their division. These are the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts. They also have older rivalries with teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills.

Divisional Rivals

Jacksonville Jaguars

The rivalry with the Jaguars started in 1995. It was very strong in the late 1990s. Both teams were very good back then. In one season, the Jaguars won 14 games, and the Titans won 13. All three of Jacksonville's losses that year, including in the playoffs, were against the Titans. The Titans currently lead this series.

Houston Texans

The Titans' rivalry with the Houston Texans is special. This is because the Titans used to be the Houston Oilers. The Titans won most of the early games. But the series has become more even recently. The Titans still lead the overall series.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts and Titans have been division rivals since 2002. In 2011, the Titans beat the Colts twice in one season. This was after losing 11 games in a row to them. In 2018, the Colts beat the Titans in the last game of the season. This kept the Titans out of the playoffs. In 2020, the Titans won their division over the Colts. The Colts lead the overall series.

Conference Rivals

Buffalo Bills

The Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills were in the same division in the AFL. Their rivalry stayed strong even after they moved to different divisions. Famous games like "the Comeback" in 1993 and the "Music City Miracle" in 2000 happened against the Bills. The Titans lead this series.

Baltimore Ravens

The Titans and Ravens started a rivalry in the late 1990s. It became more intense when former Titans quarterback Steve McNair joined the Ravens. Since 2002, the teams have played five times in the playoffs. In 2024, Derrick Henry left the Titans to play for the Ravens. The Ravens lead the overall series.

Historic Rivals

Pittsburgh Steelers

After moving to the AFC Central division, the Titans developed a rivalry with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers were the Oilers' main rival in that division. The Steelers have played the Titans more than any other NFL team. The Steelers lead the overall series.

Team Culture and Traditions

Flameheads

When the Titans first played in their new stadium, fans in the end zones started wearing flame-shaped hats. These fans became known as "Flameheads." This became popular during the team's successful years around 2000. The flames are a symbol because, in Greek Mythology, the Titan Prometheus gave fire to humans.

Cheerleaders and Mascot

Cheerleaders cheering on the crowd during a home game.

T-Rac, the mascot of the Tennessee Titans.

The Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders perform at every home game. They also work with the team's mascot, T-Rac. They have 28 members and perform many dance moves and stunts. They also attend community events.

T-Rac is the Titans' raccoon mascot. He first appeared in 1999. The raccoon is the state animal of Tennessee. T-Rac performs at every game and at community events.

Stadium Traditions

During the fourth quarter of every home game, a video plays. It shows "office linebacker" Terry Tate shouting, "the pain train's coming!" After this, the song "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash plays.

After every Titans first down, the big screen shows a scene from the movie 300. In the scene, the Spartans chant. Titans fans then chant "OOH! OOH! OOH!" three times. This chant was even included in the video game Madden NFL 22.

Titans Ring of Honor

In 1999, the team started a Hall of Fame to honor past players and staff. It was later renamed the Oilers/Titans Ring of Honor in 2008. Many great players and coaches have been inducted.

Retired Jersey Numbers

The Titans have retired several jersey numbers to honor their greatest players. This means no other player on the team will wear that number again.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Members

Many players and coaches from the Oilers/Titans franchise have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is a special place for the best players in football history.

Team Leaders in Statistics

These are some of the top players in Titans/Oilers history based on their stats.

Passing Yards (Regular Season)

Rushing Yards (Regular Season)

Receiving Yards (Regular Season)

Radio and Television Coverage

The Titans' games are broadcast on the Titans Radio Network. WGFX 104.5-FM is the main station. Mike Keith is the play-by-play announcer. Former Titans coach Dave McGinnis provides commentary. The network broadcasts on 70 stations.

Most preseason games are shown on WKRN-TV in Nashville. This is the ABC affiliate. They also have a weekly show called The Mike Vrabel Show.

For regular season games, WTVF (CBS) shows most games. This is because CBS has rights to AFC games. WZTV (Fox) shows home games against NFC teams. WSMV-TV (NBC) shows Sunday Night Football games. WKRN shows the team's Monday Night Football games.

Images for kids

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  The Tennessee Titans' current uniform.