- 1960
- 1960
- 1961
- 1968
- 1970
- 1995
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Houston Oilers Team Formation
The Houston Oilers began in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League. They were owned by Bud Adams, a Houston oilman, who had made several previous unsuccessful bids for an NFL expansion team in Houston. Adams was an influential member of the eight original AFL owners, since he, Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt and Buffalo ... -
AFL Championship Winner 1960
The 1960 American Football League Championship Game was the first AFL title game, played on New Year’s Day 1961 at Jeppesen Stadium in Houston, Texas. With New Year’s on Sunday, the major college bowl games were played on Monday, January 2. The game matched the Eastern Division champion Houston Oilers (10–4), against the Western Division champion Los Angeles Chargers (10–4), ... -
AFL Championship Winner 1961
The 1961 American Football League Championship Game was a repeat of the first AFL title game, between the Houston Oilers and the San Diego Chargers (formerly the Los Angeles Chargers). It was played on December 24 at Balboa Stadium in San Diego, California, and the Oilers were three-point favorites. -
Astrodome – First Dome Stadium
The Oilers won the AFL Eastern Division title again in 1967, then became the first professional football team to play in a domed stadium, when they moved into Houston’s Astrodome for the 1968 season. Previously, the Oilers had played at Jeppesen Stadium at the University of Houston (now called Robertson Stadium) from 1960 to 1964, and Rice University’s stadium from ... -
NFL-AFL Merge Leauges
The years immediately after the AFL-NFL Merger were not as kind to the Oilers, who sank to the bottom of the AFC Central division. After going 3-10-1 in 1970, they went 4-9-1 in 1971, and then suffered back-to-back 1-13 seasons in 1972-73. But by 1974, the Oilers led by Hall of Fame coach Sid Gilman brought the team back to ... -
Final years in Houston
At the same time, Adams again lobbied the city for a new stadium, one with club seating and other revenue generators present in recently–built NFL stadiums, and he committed to pay for 25% of the cost of a new stadium. However, mayor Bob Lanier initially supported Adams’s bid for a new stadium privately but refused to publicly support the project. ...
History of the Oilers
The Houston Oilers were a professional American football team that played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1960 to 1996. The team began to play as an original member of the AFL and won two consecutive AFL championships in 1960 and 1961. After joining the NFL in 1970, they went on to win three more division titles before relocating to Tennessee after their 1996 season.
Throughout their 36-year history, the Oilers had many great players who have gone on to be inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame, including Earl Campbell, Elvin Bethea, and Warren Moon, among others. Their rivalry with fellow Texans Dallas Cowboys was one for ages. It included classic matchups such as “the Fog Bowl” game between them during the 1987 playoffs, where visibility was limited due to thick fog caused by nearby chemical plants. This rivalry peaked when they met again during the 1993 wild card round, with the Cowboys winning 30–20 at Texas Stadium ending Oiler's playoff run that year despite being heavily favored.
The most successful era for Houston Oiler came under head coach Bum Phillips starting in 1975 till his departure in 1980; He led them through some memorable moments like the 1978 AFC championship game against Pittsburgh Steelers, which ended up being a heartbreaking loss but not without giving fans something special along the way; That same year running back Earl Campbell ran over defenders en route becoming the first player ever rush 2000 yards while also leading league touchdowns scored(19). That same season he became the only third player ever named MVP unanimously earning him the nickname "The Tyler Rose." It wasn't until 1993, when then head coach Jack Pardee took charge did they finally reach Super Bowl XXXI losing 23-35 against the Cowboys but showing signs of potential greatness ahead if given proper care. Unfortunately, this didn't happen due to relocation soon after, so all left are memories of those glory days!
Established
1960
City
Houston - Nashville
League History
1970 - Present / National Football League
1960 - 1969 / American Football League
Team History
1999 - Present / Tennessee Titans
1997 - 1998 / Tennessee Oilers
1960 - 1996 / Houston Oilers
Nickname
Oilers - The Houston Oilers are one of the most beloved teams in NFL history, and their nickname has a long and exciting origin story. The team was founded in 1960 as part of the American Football League (AFL). At that time, they were known as the Dallas Texans. However, after two seasons, they moved to Houston and changed their name to reflect their new home city.
The original owner Bud Adams wanted something unique for his team's nickname, so he decided on "Oilers" because it represented Texas' oil industry heritage and its hard-working people who worked tirelessly at those jobs day after day. It also paid homage to Adams’ background – he had been an oilman before buying the franchise!
In addition, many believe there is a subtle reference within this name pointing back toward another famous football team from Texas – namely 'the Rice Owls.' This is due to how similar ‘Owls’ sounds when spoken out loud compared with ‘Oilers,’ making this an even more fitting tribute for fans all around!
As time went by, however, public opinion began shifting away from using such names, which could be seen by some people as offensive or outdated, leading them into change again during the 1997 season when they became known simply by 'the Titans.' Nevertheless, no matter what you call them, Houston Oilers will remain part of NFL folklore, thanks mainly to being one first-ever expansion franchise established within the league itself!
Championship
Super Bowl 0
AFL Championship 2
1961, 1960
Stadium
2016 - Present / Nissan Stadium
2007 - 2015 / LP Field
2002 - 2006 / The Coliseum
1999 - 2002 / Adelphia Coliseum
1998 / Vanderbilt Stadium
1997 / Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
*Houston*
1968 - 1996 / Houston Astrodome
1965 - 1967 / Rice Stadium
1960 - 1964 / Jeppesen Stadium
Owner
2013 - Present / KSA Industries
1960 - 2013 / Bud Adams
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
1 / Warren Moon
9 / Steve McNair
27 / Eddie George
34 / Earl Campbell
43 / Jim Norton
63 / Mike Munchak
65 / Elvin Bethea
74 / Bruce Matthews
*Blue is this team’s history