When Did The Titans Join The NFL?
Contents
A look at the history of the Tennessee Titans and their journey to becoming one of the most competitive teams in the NFL.
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The Titans’ History
The Titans began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL). The team was founded by Bud Adams, who was the owner of the Houston Oilers at the time. The Oilers were one of the eight original AFL teams, but they joined the NFL in 1970 when the AFL and NFL merged.
The team’s origins in Houston
The Titans began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL). The franchise was founded by Houston oilman Bud Adams, who paid an entry fee of $25,000 to join the league. He named the team after the former Houston Oilers, an AFL team that he had watched play in the early 1960s. Adams selected Jack Pardee as the first-ever head coach of the Oilers, and Pardee led the team to a 2–14 record in its inaugural season.
The team’s move to Tennessee
The Houston Oilers began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL). The team won two AFL championships before joining the NFL as part of the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. The Oilers competed in the Eastern Division of the AFC until the NFL realigned its divisions in 2002, after which they played in the newly created South Division. The Titans franchise relocated from Houston to Tennessee in 1997, and played their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis for one season. The following year, they moved to Nashville and began playing their home games at Nashville’s then-new stadium, now Nissan Stadium. For two seasons, the team was known as the “Tennessee Oilers”, before changing their name to “Tennessee Titans” for the 1999 season.
The Titans in the NFL
The Titans franchise began in Houston in 1960 as the Houston Oilers. The Oilers were a charter member of the American Football League (AFL). The team moved to Tennessee in 1997 and became the Tennessee Oilers. In 1999, the team changed its name to the Tennessee Titans.
The team’s first season in the NFL
The team’s first season in the NFL was in 1960 as a member of the American Football League (AFL). They played their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The Titans finished their inaugural season with a 9–2–1 record, tied for first place in the AFL’s Western Division. They defeated the Buffalo Bills in the AFL Championship Game to become the league’s first ever champions.
The team’s success in the 2000s
After reaching the playoffs in 1999 for the first time since 1993, the team suffered through a 1–4 start to the season before steadying themselves and winning six of their final nine games. As a result, they became the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs after beginning 1–4. They also became only the second team after the 1960 Oakland Raiders to win a playoff game after losing four of their first five games. In 2000, head coach Jeff Fisher signed a contract extension that made him one of only two coaches in NFL history with an extension of over ten years (Bills head coach Marv Levy was the other). In 2001, running back Eddie George rushed for 1,387 yards and 12 touchdowns en route to being named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. However, just as they had done in 1999, they again began 1–4 before finishing second in their division at 7–9.
The Titans Today
The Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 in Houston, Texas.
The team’s recent success
In recent years, the Titans have been one of the most successful teams in the NFL. Led by quarterback Marcus Mariota and head coach Mike Vrabel, the team has made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. In 2019, they won their first AFC Championship since 2002.
The team’s future
In 1999, the team relocated to Tennessee, playing their home games at the newly builtLP Field in Nashville. The franchise became known as the Tennessee Titans in 2000. In 2002, the team changed their primary color from white to navy blue, cited as an effort to better reflect the city’simportant musical history. They also updated their logo and uniform design. The Titans made it to the playoffs eight times from 1999–2007, but failed to make it to the Super Bowl. In 2008, they started out with a 13–3 record and made it to the AFC Championship game for the first time since 1999, but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
In recent years, the Titans have fallen on hard times. They have not made it to the playoffs since 2008 and have had only three winning seasons since then. In 2020, they finished with a record of 5–11 and missed the playoffs for a 12th consecutive season. Despite their recent struggles, there is hope for the future. The Titans have a young core of players and new head coach Mike Vrabel who is seen as a rising star in the coaching ranks. With some more personnel changes and some luck, perhaps the Titans can return to their glory days of the early 2000s and make a run at their first ever Super Bowl title.
