Tennessee Titans Founder Bud Adams Belongs In The Pro Football Hall Of Fame

K.S. "Bud" Adams founded the Houston Oilers in 1960 and was a key figure in developing what is now known as the National Football League.

NASHVILLE - For those fortunate enough to have met Kenneth Stanley "Bud" Adams before his passing in  2013, the founder of the Houston Oilers franchise, who moved his team to Nashville in 1998 and created the Tennessee Titans, was a unique individual.   

A throwback personality to a different time in our nation and in the world of professional football, Adams danced to his own tune, including the old white, ringed tube sock he would wear on gameday with his fancy suits. This led several in the Nashville media to wait on the sidelines for his arrival to guess the color of the ring on those white tube socks.  

Not only was Adamsa a throwback, but he was also a visionary in the early days of his ownership of the Oilers franchise, as he, along with Lamar Hunt, the founder of the Kansas City Chiefs, were integral in creating the original American Football League, which began play in 1960 and merged with the NFL in 1970 to form the league we all enjoy today.   

Adams made his fortune in the petroleum business, then branched out into other ventures, including the AFL, where he founded the Oilers. He eventually merged with the NFL, where he was considered a bit of a maverick, and had his run-ins with the NFL office over the years.  

Adams and longtime Oilers and Titans scout C.O. Brocato are among 60 semifinalists for induction to the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class. Both belong in Canton, but specifically Adams, and it's long past due he gets there. 

Among his accomplishments, Adams received the inaugural Lamar Hunt Award for Professional Football in 2008. The award recognized his vision and role in helping the NFL reach its status.

Now once again, his name is on the list, this time as a semifinalist, and even though others on this list deserve it, but without Adams's efforts, this multi-billion dollar conglomerate might not exist as we know it today. 

I'll repeat it, Bud Adams deserves and belongs in the Hall, and it should happen this year! 

Titans Related Stories

• FOR THE TITANS, FIXING ONE OFFENSIVE LINE SPOT SHOULDN'T IMPACT THREE OTHERS: The Titans must find a way to replace Nicholas Petite-Frere during his six-game suspension to begin the season. Doing it shouldn't impact three positions. CLICK HERE
• TENNESSEE TITANS ROSTER RUNDOWN: OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS: Our rundown moves to the outside linebackers. CLICK HERE
• TITANS ROSTER RUNDOWN: INSIDE LINEBACKERS: Our roster rundown moves ton the inside linebackers. CLICK HERE