According to a recent report, the Tennessee Titans are considering wearing throwback uniforms from their Houston Oilers days for multiple games in the upcoming 2023 NFL season. The team writer, Jim Wyatt, confirmed the possibility after being asked if the Titans would sport the throwbacks for both home and away games this year.
Wyatt also mentioned that one of the games where the Titans might wear the Houston Oilers throwback uniforms could be against the Houston Texans, adding to the significance of the occasion. The official announcement from the Titans regarding the throwback uniforms is expected to come at the end of July.
The Houston Oilers were an original AFL franchise that began playing in 1960. After spending 36 years in Houston, the team was relocated to Tennessee by owner Bud Adams. In the first two seasons in Tennessee, the franchise was known as the Tennessee Oilers before being rebranded as the Titans prior to the 1999 season.
While the Titans have worn the Oilers throwbacks before, it has been nearly 15 years since the last time they donned those iconic uniforms. In 2009, the Titans celebrated the AFL’s 50th anniversary season by wearing blue throwbacks during a preseason game against the Bills and white throwbacks in a regular-season game against the Patriots.
Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk expressed her desire to showcase the Oilers throwbacks in the future, stating that the history of the Oilers is an integral part of the Titans’ history. Strunk acknowledged the passion of the fans in honoring that legacy and confirmed ongoing efforts to make the throwback jerseys a reality.
One of the reasons the Titans haven’t worn the Oilers throwbacks in over a decade is the NFL’s one-helmet rule, which was implemented in 2013. Strunk preferred not to have the team wear Titans helmets with Oilers uniforms, as it was the only option allowed under the one-helmet rule. However, the rule was rescinded starting in the 2022 season, allowing teams to wear alternate helmets and opening the door for the Titans to bring back the Oilers throwbacks.
According to Wyatt, it is likely that the Titans will wear the blue jerseys reminiscent of Houston’s “Luv Ya Blue” era for this year’s games. These uniforms have slight differences compared to the blue jerseys worn during the team’s AFL days.