NASHVILLE – “Oilers history is Titans history.”
Those are the words of Titans control owner Amy Adams Strunk a year ago when the organization explored the possibility of wearing retro Oilers uniforms with the classic oil derrick logo on the helmets.
The possibility has become a reality and now fans of the organization can see it for themselves.
The Titans will wear the same jerseys that the Houston Oilers wore in Houston for almost two decades until the team also wore them as the Tennessee Oilers in 1998. The uniforms represent the longest run of Oilers uniforms in franchise history and are arguably the most popular uniform.
The uniforms pay homage to the Luv Ya’ Blue era.
“It allows us to honor as many players as possible because it spans so much time,” said Surf Melendez, Titans vice president and executive creative director. “It also represented our transition to Tennessee because we wore those uniforms in Tennessee as well.”
The Titans will wear the jerseys in two games this fall, both at home. The organization inquired about wearing them to an away game in Miami, but it doesn’t look like that will work out.
The light blue Oilers jerseys will replace the light blue “Titans” jerseys as the third jersey, complementing the navy and white jerseys.
Amy Adams Strunk said last year the team wanted to continue paying tribute to the franchise’s history. The organization has honored Houston Oilers players at alumni events in recent years, and a number of Oilers are represented in the franchise ring of honor.
The Oilers left Houston for Tennessee after the 1996 season and played a year in Memphis in 1997 before playing in Nashville at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998. Just in time for the 1999 season, the Tennessee Oilers became the Tennessee Titans.
“The history of the Oilers is the history of the Titans,” Strunk said last year. “We know our fans care about showing off this legacy on match day and we are actively working to enable retro kits in the near future. Stay tuned!”
If you stay tuned, you will see this:
– “Columbia Blue” jerseys with red, white border on the numbers and names on the back, with a red, white and light blue stripe on the sleeves.
-White helmets featuring the famous oil derrick, with red face masks and red stripes outside of a thicker light blue stripe on top.
– White trousers or trousers with red stripes down each side and a thicker light blue stripe down the side.
-Red and white stripes on light blue and white socks.
“Luv Ya Blue” will be written on the back neckline of the shirts.
Players have the option to wear red sleeves, red gloves, and red studs to complement the look.
Current Titans Derrick Henry, safety Kevin Byard, defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and quarterback Ryan Tannehill have already worn them – they attended a photo shoot earlier this offseason.
“They loved them,” Melendez said of the current Titans. “You really loved her.”
Former Oilers have seen them, too — Warren Moon, Robert Brazile, and Elvin Bethea got their first glimpse when they attended an alumni event in Nashville last year.
“They loved her, and it brought her back,” Melendez said of the former Oilers. “The boys who wore the uniform brought them back. And they were able to express the importance of wearing this uniform. That was an original AFL team, so there’s a rich heritage there, and now people will see that and they’ll be reminded of that rich history.”