Titans all-time team brings together the best from Houston and Tennessee
Titans all-time team brings together the best from Houston and Tennessee
When putting together the best rosters for NFL franchises, certain eras may shine more than others. From the Bills all-time team being filled with competitors from the early 1990s teams that made four straight Super Bowls, to a Pittsburgh team featuring several players from the “Steel Curtain” era, to the Patriots and a roster with Tom Brady and quite a few of his current and former teammates.
The Titans and Oilers franchise was not dominant in any era other than the first three seasons of the American Football League, so an all-time roster is more balanced across the team’s nearly six decades.
Coach: Jeff Fisher is the franchise leader in wins by a wide margin, amassing a 142-120 record over nearly 17 seasons. He led the Titans to a 5-6 record in six playoff seasons, with the highlights being a loss to the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV and a win over the Bills thanks to the “Music City Miracle” in the 1999 Wild Card Game. Oail “Bum” Phillips went 55-35 in six seasons, leading the Oilers to back-to-back AFC title game losses to the Steelers in 1978-79. Jack Pardee (43-31) led the franchise to the playoffs in all four full seasons, including the final time in Houston in 1993. Pardee’s teams went 1-4 in the playoffs, including the 1992 Wild Card loss in which Buffalo came back after being down 35-3. Wally Lemm (37-38-4) took over for Lou Rymkus in 1961, and the Oilers went on to win nine straight games and their second straight AFL Championship. Lemm spent the next four years coaching the Cardinals but returned to lead Houston to the postseason two more times, both ending in losses to the Raiders.
Quarterback: Hall of Famer Warren Moon is the franchise leader with 33,685 yards and 196 touchdowns. He went to six straight Pro Bowls and was the 1990 Offensive Player of the Year after a career- and NFL-high 33 touchdowns. Moon had six seasons with 3,000 or more yards, and he led the league twice. The late Steve “Air” McNair is second with 27,141 yards and third with 156 scoring passes. He was the NFL MVP in 2003 after throwing for one of his five 3,000-plus yard seasons and a career-high 24 touchdowns. The three-time Pro Bowler led the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV and also is fourth in team history with 36 rushing touchdowns. Hall of Famer George Blanda led the Oilers to the AFL Championship Game three straight times, including two victories. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1961 when he led the AFL with 3,330 yards and 36 scores. Blanda ranks second with 165 passing touchdowns and he was also Houston’s kicker for seven seasons. Dan Pastorini spent most of the 1970s starting for the Oilers. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 1975 and led the team to the playoffs twice.
Running Back: In seven seasons with the Oilers, Earl Campbell rushed for 8,574 yards and a franchise-record 73 touchdowns. The Hall of Famer started his career by winning Offensive Player and Rookie of the Year awards after leading the NFL with 1,450 yards. He was the MVP with following year after amassing 1,697 yards and 19 touchdowns. Campbell followed that with arguably his best season, winning a third straight Offensive Player of the Year Award with 1,934 yards in 1980. He is a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. Eddie George is the team’s all-time leader with 10,009 rushing yards and is second with 65 touchdowns. In addition to a Super Bowl appearance, he made four Pro Bowl appearances, was an All-Pro in 2000, and he ran for 1,000 or more yards seven times. Chris Johnson’s totals of 7,965 yards and 50 scoring runs both ranks third in team history. The three-time Pro Bowler ran for at least 1,000 yards in all six seasons in Tennessee, including 2,006 yards in 2009. Lorenzo White ran for 4,072 yards in seven years and made the Pro Bowl in 1992. Mike Rozier was a two-time Pro Bowler.
Fullback: Hoyle Granger ran for 3,514 yards in six seasons and made two Pro Bowls. His best season was 1967 when he led the AFL with 1,494 yards from scrimmage. Original Oiler Charley Tolar went to a pair of Pro Bowls and was a part of two AFL Championship teams. He finished with 3,277 yards and 18 touchdowns in seven years.
Wide Receiver: Ernest Givens was Moon’s favorite target in seven playoff seasons, and he was also the franchise leader with 542 receptions and 7,935 yards. The two-time Pro Bowler is fifth with 46 touchdowns. Drew Hill was Givens’ teammate who had five seasons with 1,000 or more yards. The two-time Pro Bowler was fourth with 480 catches and second with 7,477 yards and 47 scores. Charlie Hennigan had 6,823 yards and holds a team record with 51 touchdowns. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro, and a two-time champion who led the AFL in receiving yards twice. Ken Burrough is tied for second in team history with 47 scores, and his 6,906 yards rank third. He was a two-time Pro Bowler who led the NFL with 1,063 yards in 1975. Haywood Jeffires is second with 515 receptions to go along with 6,119 yards and 47 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl three times and was an All-Pro in 1991 when he led the league with 100 catches. Derrick Mason was McNair’s top target. He had 6,114 yards and 37 touchdowns. Mason was a Pro Bowler twice and an All-Pro in 2000. Nate Washington had 4,591 yards and 28 scores in six seasons. Drew Bennett totaled 4,033 yards in his Tennessee tenure, including 1,247 in 2004. Curtis Duncan made the Pro Bowl in 1992.
Tight End: Frank Wycheck is best known for his questionable lateral in the 1999 Wild Card game against Buffalo, but is a three-time Pro Bowler. He tops the position with 482 receptions, 4,958 yards, and 27 touchdowns. Marcus Mariota’s favorite target, Delanie Walker, went to the Pro Bowl three times. His 360 catches, 4,208 yards, and 26 scores are all second at the position. Alvin Reed went to a pair of Pro Bowls in six years.
Tackle: Two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl starter Brad Hopkins played in 194 games over 13 seasons. Opposite him is David Stewart, who started 116 games in eight years. Al Jamison, Walt Suggs, and Rich Michael are all two-time Pro Bowl selections. Jamison was a three-time All-Pro and a two-time champion, Suggs played in 137 games and Michael joined Jamison on two title teams. Michael Roos was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2008. Elbert Drungo played in 107 games at both tackle and guard.
Guard: Hall of Famer Mike Munchak went to nine Pro Bowls in 12 seasons. He was a two-time All-Pro who appeared in 159 games with Houston. On the right side is Benji Olson, who started for nine years in Tennessee. Bob Talamini is a two-time champion who made six Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro three times. Ed Fisher was a starter during the 1970s and Sonny Bishop was a Pro Bowler in 1968.
Center: Bruce Matthews is the most versatile player on this team. The Hall of Famer played with the franchise for 19 seasons, starting at least one year at each spot on the offensive line. He appeared in 14 straight Pro Bowls, was a seven-time All-Pro and played in a team-record 296 games. Bob Schmidt was a three-time Pro Bowler who helped the Oilers win a championship in 1961. Hall of Famer Kevin Mawae spent four years with the Titans. He made the Pro Bowl twice and was an All-Pro in 2008.
Defensive End: Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea went to the Pro Bowl eight times in 16 seasons. He is second in team history with 210 games. Jevon Kearse quickly earned his nickname “The Freak.” He had 14½ sacks and led the NFL with eight forced fumbles in 1999, earning him All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He is fourth in team history with 52 sacks, and he went to three Pro Bowls. William Fuller is second with 59 sacks, including 15 in his 1991 Pro Bowl season. Sean Jones is third on the franchise list with 57 ½ sacks. He had six or more in all six seasons with Houston, with a high of 13 when he went to the Pro Bowl in 1993. Two-time Pro Bowler Kyle Vanden Bosch had 38½ sacks, with 12½ in 2005 and 12 more two years later. Jesse Baker was a member of the 1979 NFL All-Rookie Team. He had 34 sacks, with 11 in 1984.
Defensive Tackle: Ray Childress, the team’s all-time leader with 75½ sacks, split time between end and tackle. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro in 1992, and he had nine seasons with five or more sacks. Curley Culp, another Hall of Famer, was also a collegiate wrestling champion. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1975 as a nose tackle. Jurrell Casey is fifth in team history with 46 sacks, including six seasons with five or more. He has gone to the last four Pro Bowls. Ed Husmann was a three-time Pro Bowler, a champion in 1961 and an All-Pro the following season. Albert Haynesworth was selected to the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team in 2007 and ’08
Outside Linebacker: Current star Derrick Morgan is an edge rusher who has 44½ sacks, including nine in 2014. Hall of Famer Robert Brazile went to seven Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro twice. The 1975 Defensive Rookie of the Year spent 10 seasons in Houston. Keith Bullock had 1,056 tackles in ten seasons, and he had 100 or more six times. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2003 when he led the NFL with 152 tackles. His 19 interceptions are second-most among non-defensive backs. Eddie Robinson was a starter in Super Bowl XXXIV and played in 127 games over eight seasons. Brian Orakpo had 10 sacks in 2016. Ted Washington played in 128 games in 10 years.
Middle linebacker: Gregg Bingham started 173 games in 12 seasons, amassing 21 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries. Al Smith was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1992. He had 100 or more tackles five times. Garland Boyette went to a pair of Pro Bowls in the late 1960s.
Cornerback: Cris Dishman is second in team history with 31 interceptions. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1991. Zeke Moore was a two-time Pro Bowler who had 24 picks in 11 seasons. Miller Farr had 19 interceptions in just three seasons and returned five for touchdowns. His three Pro Bowls include a 1967 season in which he had 10 for 264 yards and three scores, all of which led the AFL. Darryll Lewis had 27 interceptions and went to the Pro Bowl in 1995. Samari Rolle was named to the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team in 2000 after picking off seven passes. Tony Banfield was a starter on two championship teams and had 27 interceptions. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro. W.K. Hicks, a 1966 Pro Bowler, had 27 picks, including an AFL-leading nine in 1965. Willie Alexander had 23 interceptions during nine seasons in Houston.
Safety: Jim Norton holds the franchise record with 45 interceptions. The three-time Pro Bowler and two-time champion was also the team’s punter in the 1960s. Hall of Famer Ken Houston was a five-time Pro Bowler who had 25 picks and returned nine for touchdowns. Free safety Marcus Robertson had 22 interceptions, including seven in his All-Pro season in 1993. Fred Glick was a three-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1964 when he had 12 of his 30 picks. Michael Griffin went to a pair of Pro Bowls and had 25 interceptions in nine seasons. Blaine Bishop went to four Pro Bowls and amassed 694 tackles in nine years. Mike Reinfeldt was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1979 when he had 12 interceptions for 205 yards.
Kicker: Al Del Greco has 1,060 points, including eight seasons with 100 or better. Rob Bironas is a close second with 1,032 points and seven seasons of 100 or more. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro after a 133-point season in 2007. Blanda had 598 points.
Punter: Brett Kern has a 45.8-yard average in nine seasons. He is a two-time Pro Bowler and he led the league in punt average in 2017. Craig Hentrich went to the Pro Bowl twice and was an All-Pro in 1998 when he led the NFL with 47.2 yards per punt average. Norton is a three-time Pro Bowler who led the AFL in punts and yards in 1965.
Returners: Bobby Jancik is the franchise leader with 4,185 kick return yards, and he led the AFL twice. In addition to his receiving stats, Mason ran back one kickoff and two punts for scores, and he was an All-Pro in 2000. Carl Roaches, a 1981 Pro Bowler, ran back two kicks for touchdowns. Billy “White Shoes” Johnson was one of the most dangerous returners in the 1970s. The two-time Pro Bowler and 1977 All-Pro returned five punts and two kickoffs for scores. Carl Roaches ran back two kickoffs for scores and made the Pro Bowl in 1981. Marc Mariani made the Pro Bowl and the All-Rookie Team in 2010 with 1,530 kickoff return yards. Adam Jones has four punt return touchdowns.
Special Teams:Linebacker John Henry Mills played four seasons in Houston and made the Pro Bowl in the team’s final season there in 1996. Brynden Trawick was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2017.
-By: Kevin Rakas