Titans Add Bum Phillips, Jeff Fisher, Floyd Reese To Ring Of Honor

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The Tennessee Titans are adding former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips, former Titans coach Jeff Fisher, and former general manager Floyd Reese to its Ring of Honor. They will be honored along with 14 other legends this fall at Nissan Stadium.

The origins of the Ring of Honor started with a team Hall of Fame induction in 1999, the first year played at Nissan Stadium, when seven initial members had their names displayed inside the seating bowl. Over the years, the organization added to the list of legends, with K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr., Elvin Bethea, George Blanda, Robert Brazile, Earl Campbell, Eddie George, Mike Holovak, Ken Houston, Bruce Matthews, Steve McNair, Warren Moon, Mike Munchak, Jim Norton, and Frank Wycheck all being recognized.

“I am so excited to recognize these important figures in our team’s history,” says controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk. “Each had a significant hand in the success of their eras.”

Phillips coached the Houston Oilers for six seasons between 1975-1980. Known for his powerful personality and sporting a cowboy hat on the sideline, Phillips owns the best winning percentage (.608) by a Titans/Oilers head coach who has coached at least two full seasons, totaling a 59-38 mark. He led the Oilers to back-to-back AFC Chmapionship appearances in 1978 and 1979.

In 16 full seasons at the helm, Fisher only had four losing records. He’s the only head coach in franchise history to win 13 games in a season, a mark he reached three times (1999, 2000, 2008). Fisher is also the winningest coach in franchise history with 147 wins from 1994-2010, and guided the franchise to its only Super Bowl appearance following the 1999 season. Under Fisher, George became the franchise’s all-time leading rusher and in 2000 the team’s defense ranked first in yards allowed for the only time since 1970.

“Oftentimes, for whatever reason, long careers run their course and come to an end, and [as] you enter a different stage of life, you have plenty of time to reflect on what was accomplished personally and professionally and so on and so forth,” says Fisher. “Certainly, over the last couple of years I’ve had that opportunity… The whole Titans family has remained very, very close to us. Our affection for the organization has never wavered. To be in a position where I took a call from Amy and shared the conversation with her regarding the organization’s intention to put me into the Ring of Honor was just extraordinary.”

Reese was general manager during the most successful period in Titans history and spent 21 years with the Oilers/Titans organization as a coach, executive, and GM. Under his watch from 1994-2006, he tallied 111 wins with the Titans advancing to two AFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl. He is also responsible for acquiring McNair, George, Wycheck, Jevon Kearse, Derrick Mason, Keith Bulluck, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Kevin Mawae, Craig Hentrich, Albert Haynesworth and Vince Young. That grouping of players would collect 27 Pro Bowl honors, three Rookies of the Year, and one AP Co-MVP for the club.

Phillips will be inducted into the Ring of Honor at Nissan Stadium on Sept. 26 during a game against the Colts which will serve as the highlight to an Oilers Homecoming week. Fisher and Reese will be honored together at another game that is yet to be determined.

Steven Boero
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