NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans are going back to their Oilers days for throwback uniforms this season.
The Titans announced Sunday night they will wear the uniforms the franchise wore between 1981 as the Houston Oilers through 1998, their second and final year as the Tennessee Oilers after leaving Houston for a new stadium in Nashville. They will don the throwbacks for two home games.
The Columbia blue jersey, white pants and white helmet featuring an oil derrick with a red face mask was the combination worn the longest by the franchise founded in 1960 by the late Bud Adams in the AFL.
“This was an original AFL team, so there’s a rich tradition there and now people are going to see this, and they are going to be reminded of this rich history,” said Surf Melendez, the Titans’ vice president and executive creative director.
The uniform, created with Nike, features a nod to the Oilers coached by Bum Phillips with Pro Football Hall of Fame back Earl Campbell with “Luv Ya Blue” inside the neckline of the jersey. Those Oilers reached back-to-back AFC championship games, losing both to Pittsburgh.