Titans football sticker
Titans football sticker (Photo by fifg on Shutterstock)
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Best Titans Players Of All Time: Top 7 Legendary Tennessee Athletes, According To Fans

January 6, 2024
by Matthew Sherdan

The Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL) were once known as the Houston Oilers. The team moved from Houston to Nashville in 1996 and played as the Tennessee Oilers for two seasons before changing their name to the Titans in 1999. The franchise has had some great players come through the organization, but only a few can be called the best Titans players of all time. 

Speaking of football players, a recent study suggests that fans prefer championship teams comprised of homegrown talent as opposed to teams stacked with pricey free agents. Research shows that sports fans prefer championship teams comprised of drafted or “homegrown” players instead of teams built with expensive free-agent players. Sports fans find it fun to cheer for young players trying to make a name for themselves. There’s nothing quite like watching a young star transition from college to the professional ranks and helping your team win a championship. 

Regardless of how your team’s roster is comprised, chances are you’re willing to watch them play anyway. In fact, another study found that the average sports fan is willing to travel and spend big money to watch their favorite team play live, in person. A survey of 2,000 self-identified sports fanatics examined the lengths people are willing to go to in order to watch their favorite sports team play in person and found that the average fan is willing to travel a whopping five hours and 48 minutes plus spend $762.20 on tickets just to see their favorite team play live. We hear Nashville is beautiful in the fall. 

So, how do you decipher the greats that stand out in Titan history? StudyFinds did the research, consulting 10 football and sports websites in an effort to bring you a consensus list of the best Titans players of all time. Our list comprises the seven most frequently listed Titans players from across these sites. Think your favorite Titans player was snubbed? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below! 

Football on a turf field
Football (Photo by Dave Adamson on Unsplash)

The List: Best Titans Players, Per Sports Experts

1. Steve McNair

The top spot on the list of the best players in Titans franchise history belongs to quarterback Steve McNair. He was the ultimate competitor and an amazing athlete, so it stands to reason that his legacy remains as one of the greatest players to ever suit up for the Titans and to ever play in the NFL. “The heart and soul of the early Titans teams and one of, if not the toughest, man to ever play quarterback in this league. Countless times McNair was unable to practice, yet on Sunday, when game time arrived, there he was, playing with reckless abandon and playing well despite the pain he was likely enduring. That, along with other things, is what endured No. 9 to Titans fans and will hold him here forever,” explains Sports Illustrated.

McNair was drafted third overall out of Alcorn State, so not exactly an NFL breeding ground. Still, McNair proved all of the doubters wrong over the course of his illustrious career and became one of the most recognizable players in the NFL. Unfortunately, the NFL world lost McNair in a tragedy that still tugs at our heartstrings to this day. “Air McNair took the Titans to the playoffs four times and split an MVP award with Peyton Manning, while also getting selected to three Pro Bowls… McNair threw 156 touchdowns in the 10 years he played for Tennessee, rushing for 36 more. If Kevin Dyson had made it one yard further, he’d also have a Super Bowl ring. Tragically, Steve McNair was killed in a murder-suicide in 2009. Members of the Tennessee Titans wore a No. 9 sticker on their helmets the following season in his memory,” adds Bleacher Report. 

McNair probably should have played his entire career in a Titans uniform but with the modern NFL and free agency, players rarely stay with one team for that long and McNair eventually left for the Baltimore Ravens. However, McNair will forever be remembered as a Titan and for giving NFL fans one of the most exciting careers they’ve ever seen. “Without a doubt, McNair is the reason the Titans even saw the Super Bowl field. He had an electric offensive maneuver and played like his life depended on it…If it wasn’t for McNair’s untimely and heartbreaking passing, we could have seen so much more from this star player,” writes Sports Pickle. 

2. Bruce Matthews

Bruce Matthews is arguably one of the greatest offensive linemen in the history of the NFL, and he’s easily the best lineman the Titans franchise has ever had. “He played all five positions at various points during his illustrious 19-year career and was named to 14 consecutive Pro Bowl rosters. He played in 296 career games, including 232 in a row at one point — both marks are franchise records. The 6-foot-5, 305-pounder also played in 15 postseason games for the Oilers and Titans. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007 and later served as the Titans’ offensive line coach from 2011 to 2013 under longtime teammate Mike Munchak,” writes Titans Wire. 

Matthews could easily be placed at the top of this list and no one could argue him being number one. “Bruce Matthews is the greatest Oilers/Titans player ever. He played his whole career with the team, playing 296 games, and retired at the age of 40. He was considered a very versatile offensive lineman. He played in the following positions: Guard, Center, Right Tackle, Left Tackle, basically every offensive position,” furthers Bola VIP. 

Over the course of his career, he started at least one game at every position along the front five. Matthews wasn’t just a great blocker, he was one of the most durable football players the NFL has ever seen. “Matthews was an iron man of sorts, playing an astounding 296 Regular Season Games (currently 14th all-time) and starting 293 of them. Matthews, who was taken ninth overall in 1983, hit his stride in his sixth season, beginning a 14-year streak of Pro Bowls, which is tied for the most ever. Matthews was a seven-time First Team All-Pro, which he accomplished at three different positions, Right Guard, Center, and Left Guard. This ability to excel at different slots at the Offensive Line was invaluable to the Oilers/Titans, who could use other Lineman to their strengths,” adds Not in Hall of Fame. 

3. Eddie George

Bulldozing his way into the third spot is legendary running back Eddie George. George was a star before he was ever drafted by the franchise. He was a Heisman winner at Ohio State University where he ran all over college defenses before continuing that dominance in the NFL. “Eddie George was a running back for the Titans between 1996 and 2003. His final season in 2004 was played with the Dallas Cowboys. He won the Heisman trophy in 1995 and then was Offensive Rookie of the Year. George was an extremely consistent player and was named All-Pro once and Pro Bowl 4 times in his career. His jersey number was retired by the Titans in 2019,” writes Orange Fizz. 

George and quarterback Steve McNair formed one of the greatest backfields in the NFL during their time in the league together. George was a punishing runner who had no problem carrying the ball 25-plus times per game. “Eddie George gave the team one of the best one-two punches of all time as he and quarterback Steve McNair made opposing defenses pay at virtually every turn… Over the course of his Titans tenure, George rushed for more than 10,000 yards en route to becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in such a category. It is also worth noting that George helped lead the Titans to four playoff appearances, an AFC Championship, an appearance in the Super Bowl — all while accumulating four Pro Bowl appearances, an Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and an All-Pro nod,” furthers Clutch Points. 

George is the first in a long legacy of great running backs for the Titans and Oilers franchises. He excelled at every stage of his career and when he was no longer the type of running back he wanted to be in the NFL, he hung up his football cleats for good. Overall, George carried the ball over 2,700 times for over 10,000 yards and scored a combined total of 74 touchdowns both rushing and receiving.  

“The Heisman Trophy winner was the picture of consistency for the Titans. In his eight years as the Titans’ primary runner, he only came short of 1,000 yards once and earned a trip to four Pro Bowls on the way. You don’t see that level of durability in running backs anymore. The combination of Eddie George and Steve McNair kept the Titans relevant even when the team was in flux. In total, while with Tennessee, George’s numbers look like this: 2,733 carries, 10,009 rushing yards, 2,144 receiving yards and 74 touchdowns,” adds Bleacher Report. 

4. Warren Moon

Warren Moon takes us back to the team’s days as the Houston Oilers. Moon is by far one of the greatest pure passers in the history of the NFL and he’s a lock for one of the franchise’s greatest players. “Before McNair was drafted by the Titans, Warren Moon was considered the greatest quarterback in franchise history. After four years between West Los Angeles College and the University of Washington, Moon went undrafted in 1978. This led him to start his career in the Canadian Football League, where he dominated for five seasons before joining the Titans (Oilers),” explains Rookie Road. 

Moon was a great college quarterback and he’s one of the top players in the history of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Moon’s success finally paid off and he got an opportunity to play in the NFL. “It wasn’t long before Moon turned the Oilers franchise into winners. During his time with the Oilers Moon went to six straight Pro Bowls, he led the league in passing yards twice, Moon is the greatest Quarterback in franchise history and one of the best to ever lace them up at Quarterback in the history of the NFL,” furthers The Grueling Truth. 

By the time Moon got an opportunity to play in the NFL, he was 28 years old and was already an established professional from the CFL. Moon led his Oilers to six playoff appearances and instantly became one of the league’s top passing threats. “Moon is the franchise passing leader with 33,685 yards and 196 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. With this, he became both the first African-American quarterback and the first undrafted player at the position to achieve the honor,” adds Titans Wire. 

5. Keith Bulluck

Former all-pro linebacker Keith Bulluck anchored Tennessee’s defense for nearly a decade and he’s a big reason for the team’s sustained success during the early 2000s. “He was a tackling machine, a leader on the field, and seemingly, an all-around nice guy. The three-time All-Pro totaled 770 tackles, 15 forced fumbles, 69 defended passes, 19 interceptions and 18 sacks while he was with Tennessee. Not to mention the fact that from 2002 onward, he didn’t miss a single game. He was durable, he was reliable, he was consistent and he was even occasionally a playmaker,” writes Bleacher Report. 

Bulluck played his college football career for Syracuse University in New York before being drafted by the Titans in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft. However, it wasn’t until Bulluck’s third season that he really started to solidify his place as one of the game’s top linebackers. “Bulluck didn’t have a long history in the NFL, leaving after just 10 years of active play. However, in those 10 years, Bulluck made waves. He was a tackling machine and led the team through all defensive maneuvers. During his time Bulluck created 15 forced fumbles, 21 interceptions, and 18 sacks. Bulluck also scored 6 defensive touchdowns,” exclaims Sports Pickle. 

Although Bulluck eventually left the Titans to play for the New York Giants, his best days were spent in Tennessee. Many of his most legendary games came under the bright lights of primetime. “Bulluck led the team to five postseason appearances in addition to posting impressive numbers on an individual level year in and year out. Known as ‘Mr. Monday Night’ thanks to his three-interception performance against the New Orleans Saints in 2007, the veteran linebacker only missed three regular-season games in 10 years and finished in the top 10 in the league in total tackles three different times. A first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, Bulluck also led the NFL in total tackles with 152 wrap-ups in 2004,” adds Clutch Points. 

6. Jevon Kearse

Another defensive star highlighted in the rankings is Jevon Kearse, also known as “The Freak.” Kearse was as fierce a pass rusher as you’ll find in the NFL and he helped lead the Titans pass rush for over five years. “Jevon Kearse was drafted to the Titans in 1999 and after a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles between 2004 and 2007, he returned to the Titans until his retirement in 2009. As a defensive end, he was nicknamed ‘The Freak’ for his skills. During his rookie season in 1999, he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and then would go on to be named Pro Bowler 3 times and All-Pro once,” writes Orange Fizz. 

Kearse was a great defensive end and pass rusher from the moment he entered the league. His 14-plus sacks in his rookie year are still an NFL record to this day and no other player has come particularly close to that total. “The league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1999, Kearse immediately helped lead the Titans to the Super Bowl with 14.5 sacks that year. Not only that, but he set an NFL rookie record for sacks in a single-season in the process. The first-ever NFL Draft pick of the Tennessee Titans, Kearse went on to reach three Pro Bowls alongside one All-Pro selection, all while becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the NFL for quite a few years. It is also worth mentioning that Kearse was part of five Titans teams that reached the postseason as remained a staple of the franchise at its highest peaks,” adds Clutch Points. 

Kearse was a big reason the Titans made it to the Super Bowl in 1999, his rookie year. Kearse was the missing piece to the Titans’ defense and his stellar rookie season proved that the team made the right choice in drafting him 16th overall out of the University of Florida. “The Freak set the Nashville sports scene and the Titans on fire during his rookie season and led fans to ponder Who Let The Dogs Out every time he crushed another quarterback,” furthers Sports Illustrated. 

7. Earl Campbell

Rounding out the list of the best players in Titans history is running back Earl Campbell. Of course, Campbell never played for the franchise when they were in Tennessee but that shouldn’t take away from his legendary status as one of the best running backs to ever play in the NFL. “Throughout their history, the Titans have always been a run-heavy team thanks to explosive halfbacks like Earl Campbell. The member of the 1991 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame came into the league after a great four-year career at the University of Texas, which earned him the first overall selection in the 1978 NFL Draft. Campbell did not take long to adapt to the pace of the NFL, as he won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards in his very first season,” explains Rookie Road. 

Campbell had one of the most successful rookie seasons of all time and he’s easily a top 15 running back in the history of the NFL. And for anyone who thought his rookie season was a fluke, the All-Pro running back proved them wrong in the following seasons. “Campbell won both the Offensive Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, and both the NEA and PFWA named him their MVP. What do you do for an encore? Have an even better season. In 1979, Campbell exceeded his rookie mark with 1,697 Rushing Yards and a career-best 19 Touchdowns, which also led the NFL. Campbell swept every major award he could win (AP MVP, Bert Bell, NEA MVP, PFWA MVP, and OPOY) and had his second straight Rushing Title. His 1980 Season saw him again lead the NFL in Rushing with 1,934 Yards and 13 TDs, and his third consecutive OPOY was his,” furthers Not in Hall of Fame. 

NFL fans may never see another running back as talented as Campbell. Campbell was a physical back who had no problem running over defenders on his way to the endzone. “Arguably the most physical running back in NFL history, Campbell wielded an exquisite combination of speed, agility and brute strength to run over, through, around and past flummoxed defenders during his seven seasons in Columbia blue. A 5-foot-11, 232-pound human bowling ball with 36-inch thighs, Campbell led the NFL in rushing yards in each of his first three pro seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl five times,” adds Titans Wire. 

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