For the first time since 1998, the Tennessee Titans have decided to wear their Houston Oilers jerseys, and NFL fans have mixed feelings about it.
The Houston Oilers were the team in Houston from 1960-1996, when owner Bud Adams decided to move the team to Tennessee, in a clandestine move done largely because Houston wouldn’t approve a new stadium that met Adams’s desire.
For that reason, some fans feel like even though they’re technically the same franchise, Tennessee shouldn’t be allowed to claim Houston’s history and especially not be allowed to wear Houston’s uniforms, which fans have long called one of the best in NFL history.
One person who has to be loving the uniforms is Titans quarterback Will Levis. Levis threw his first career touchdown pass late in the first quarter to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who hauled in his first touchdown as a Titan.
First NFL TD pass for @will_levis and first Titans TD catch for @DeAndreHopkins!
: Watch #ATLvsTEN on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/rya3lHnon2 — Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 29, 2023
Social media had plenty to say in both directions about the jerseys.
Jim Weber raised an interesting proposition, saying, “New rule: The Titans either make these throwbacks permanent or the rights to them are reverted back to Houston, who go back to being the Oilers. Fair is fair.”
New rule: The Titans either make these throwbacks permanent or the rights to them are reverted back to Houston, who go back to being the Oilers.
Fair is fair.
pic.twitter.com/o89TcsZDow — College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) October 29, 2023
Another fan wasn’t pleased, saying, “One key word. HOUSTON.”
One key word. HOUSTON
— Cody Horn (@codyjhor) October 29, 2023
Former Houston Texan JJ Watt also weighed in, saying, “Oilers uniforms look absolutely incredible. There is zero denying that.” Watt had said previously that the Texans should get to wear those uniforms.
Oilers uniforms look absolutely incredible.
There is zero denying that.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 29, 2023
Another fan raised an interesting point about how good the uniforms look, saying, “I don’t understand why teams don’t use their best uniform as their permanent one. Titans should use this uniform with their current logo modified to fit the colors”
I don’t understand why teams don’t use their best uniform as their permanent one. Titans should use this uniform with their current logo modified to fit the colors https://t.co/T4CFDciwh7
— Silky Sonic (@SilkyJohnstamos) October 29, 2023
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