NASHVILLE – Get ready for a nostalgic trip back to the ‘Luv Ya Blue’ era! The Tennessee Titans are set to don their Houston Oilers throwback uniforms for two home games in the 2023 season, a move that has sparked immense excitement, especially among former Oilers legends.
The announcement of the Titans Oilers Uniforms sent waves of joy through the Oilers faithful. Hall of Famer Robert Brazile’s reaction perfectly encapsulates this sentiment. Upon seeing the uniform reveal, Brazile was so moved he woke his wife in the middle of the night.
“I was in tears when I saw these uniforms, because I was so excited,” Brazile recounted. “My wife heard me and woke up, and said: ‘Robert, is everything OK?’ And I said: ‘Brenda, it’s finally going to happen! It’s going to really, really happen! My colors, my Luv ‘Ya Blue, it’s coming alive again.’ And it makes me, and it makes everybody that played with the Oilers know, ‘We’re not dead. We’re alive. The Oilers are alive.'”
Brazile, a linebacker who earned the moniker “Dr. Doom” during his illustrious 1975-84 career with the Oilers, emphasized the deep connection former players have with the organization. “I don’t think you can really understand it unless you were an Oiler. But I gave my heart and soul to that organization – it’s the only organization I ever played for – and for Amy (Adams Strunk) and the team to keep our memory alive, it’s heartwarming. Every time the Titans wear those Oilers jerseys, I don’t care where they are at, I want to be at that stadium.”
The Titans have officially announced the dates for these highly anticipated Titans throwback uniforms appearances:
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October 29 vs. Atlanta Falcons at Nissan Stadium: This game will also be designated as Oilers/Titans Alumni Weekend, a tradition the team has fostered for years, making the Oilers uniforms even more poignant.
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December 17 vs. Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium: The choice to wear the Oilers throwback uniforms against the Texans adds an intriguing layer to this divisional matchup, considering the history between the Oilers and Houston.
While there’s a possibility of seeing the Titans Oilers uniforms on the road once, these home games are confirmed dates to witness this tribute.
Brazile voiced his bewilderment at any negative reactions from Houston regarding the Titans wearing Oilers uniforms. He firmly believes the Titans have every right to honor this shared history. “I am going to make this as plain and simple as I can for anyone who has any doubts about this: The Oilers are Titans history, not Texans history,” Brazile declared. “Look at the Titans Ring of Honor, and how many Oilers are in there? It’s a good number (10). How many Oilers are in the Texans Ring of Honor? The answer is zero.”
He passionately concluded, “I was born an Oiler and I’m going to die a Titan.”
The Titans Oilers throwback uniforms will be faithful replicas of those worn by the Houston Oilers for decades, up to 1998, which included the Tennessee Oilers season.
Image: Hall of Fame linebacker Robert Brazile, a legend of the Houston Oilers, expresses his excitement about the Tennessee Titans bringing back the Oilers throwback uniforms.
Fans can expect to see the Columbia Blue jerseys adorned with red trim around the white numbers, complete with names on the back and the iconic red, white, and light blue sleeve stripes.
The helmets will be white, featuring the instantly recognizable oil derrick logo, paired with red facemasks and red stripes flanking a thicker light blue stripe down the center. Completing the Oilers uniform, the players will wear white pants, or “britches,” with red stripes bordering a thicker light blue stripe, and socks featuring red and white stripes on a light blue and white base.
A special detail for long-time fans, the words “Luv Ya Blue” will be proudly displayed on the back neckline of the jerseys.
Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, who played for the Oilers from 1994-2003, has been a vocal supporter of this initiative. “It’s been a long time coming,” Moon stated. “I’ve been talking to Amy about this for two years now and she’s been wanting to do this for a long time, and I am glad it is going to happen.”
Moon even suggested a bold move: “I would love to see them wear those Oilers uniforms both times against the Texans – once in Houston, so the Houston fans can see it, and of course in Tennessee so the fans there can see the uniforms.”
The Oilers’ relocation to Tennessee occurred after the 1996 season. They spent a year as the Tennessee Oilers in Memphis (1997) and then in Nashville at Vanderbilt Stadium (1998) before officially becoming the Tennessee Titans in 1999.
Moon highlighted the contrasting approaches of the Texans and Titans organizations regarding Oilers history. “I know this is a very sensitive subject in Houston, but the Texans never really reached out to any of the (former Oilers) and never made it feel like they wanted anything to do with the Oilers,” Moon explained. “They wanted to just create their own identity. And since Amy has taken over, she has really had a passion for the Houston Oilers – she wanted to bring everybody into one family, Oilers and Titans, and that’s why she’s had these alumni weekends, and been doing that for the last five years.”
Image: Hall of Fame Quarterback Warren Moon wearing the classic Houston Oilers helmet, expressing his support for the Titans honoring the Oilers legacy.
He further emphasized his connection to the Titans organization, “Now all the Oilers feel really comfortable going to Nashville every year for their reunion, and they never had a reunion before Amy came aboard. I know my number is retired in the stadium in Nashville, and it’s where I’m in the Ring of Honor, and that’s what I identify with now.”
Bud Adams, the father of Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk, was the owner during the Oilers era when Brazile and Moon played, further solidifying the lineage.
Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, a former Oilers receiver from 1974-1980, also voiced his appreciation. He stated, “When the Titans come out in those uniforms, it’s going to bring back memories, all kinds of memories,” Johnson said. “And I can’t thank Amy enough – she’s done a great job keeping the Oilers and the memory of the Oilers alive, and I know all the former players appreciate it.”
Amy Adams Strunk’s commitment to honoring the franchise’s history is evident. “And when you look at it, the Titans are the Oilers and the Oilers are the Titans,” Johnson added. “People forget the Tennessee Oilers wore these uniforms, too, so it just seems right. I can’t wait to see them on the field again.”
This fall, the Titans Oilers uniforms will not just be a throwback; they will be a vibrant celebration of the shared heritage of the Oilers and Titans, bringing “Luv Ya Blue” back to life for fans old and new.
