Titans to add Jeff Fisher, Floyd Reese, Bum Phillips to Ring of Honor
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By: Mike Moraitis
The Tennessee Titans will have three new additions to their Ring of Honor in 2021, as the team announced former head coaches Jeff Fisher and Bum Phillips, along with former general manager Floyd Reese, will all be honored.
Titans controlling owner, Amy Adams Strunk, released this statement along with the announcement, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online:
“I am so excited to recognize these important figures in our team’s history,” Adams Strunk said. “Each had a significant hand in the success of their eras. Bum was Texas through and through and led us to new heights as the ‘Luv Ya Blue’ era was born, reaching two AFC Championship games.
“Jeff won more games than any coach in franchise history, while also leading our football team through some difficult years as we moved to Tennessee – playing in four different home stadiums over a four-year period. His ability to connect with our players and our fans was unmatched and he too reached two AFC Championship games and helped take us to our only Super Bowl.
“Floyd was a great position coach for us during our run of success during the Run ‘n Shoot years and then transitioned to the front office, where he found even greater success. He had a great ability to find talent and take ‘chances’ to find sustained success – hiring a first-time head coach in Jeff Fisher; selecting a Division I-AA quarterback, Steve McNair, in the top five of the draft; converting a first-round linebacker, Jevon Kearse, to defensive end; claiming a little used tight end, Frank Wycheck, from Washington; and trading down, then up to grab a Heisman-trophy-winning running back, Eddie George.”
Fisher is arguably the greatest head coach in franchise history, and at the very least the best in the Titans era. His 142 wins over 17 seasons with the team is tops, and he’s responsible for taking the franchise to its only Super Bowl. He also led the team during its transition from Houston to Tennessee.
Phillips led the way for the Houston Oilers for six seasons (1975-1980) as its head coach, taking the team to a pair of AFC Championship contests during what is dubbed as the “Luv Ya Blue Era”. He also served as the team’s defensive coordinator in 1974.
After serving as the linebackers coach for the Oilers from 1986-1989, Reese took a position in the front office as assistant general manager and eventually worked his way up to executive vice president and general manager in 1994, positions he held until 2006.
Reese was responsible for the hire of Fisher, and together the pair led the Titans to a pair of AFC Championships and one Super Bowl appearance during what was one of the most successful periods in franchise history.
With Fisher, Reese and Phillips being added to the Ring of Honor, the Titans will now have 17 members.
The others 14 include 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.
Phillips, who passed away in 2013, will be honored at the Sept. 26 game versus the Indianapolis Colts, while Fisher and Reese will be honored together at a later date that has yet to be revealed.
