JUST IN: Tennessee Titans to Discontinue Houston Oilers Throwback Uniforms for 2025 Season, Embrace New Identity
Nashville, TN – April 10, 2025
In a major branding move that has stirred emotions across the NFL landscape, the Tennessee Titans have officially announced they will discontinue the use of Houston Oilers throwback uniforms for the 2025 season. The decision comes after a year of heated public discourse, including backlash from Houston Texans fans and local officials over the Titans’ continued use of the beloved Oilers branding.
The Titans, who originally relocated from Houston to Tennessee in 1997 and rebranded in 1999, revived the iconic Oilers throwback uniforms for select games during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. While many fans embraced the nostalgia, the use of the baby blue and red uniforms sparked controversy—particularly among fans and leadership in Houston who felt the Oilers’ legacy belongs to the city where the franchise was born.
Now, the Titans say they are turning the page.
“We have tremendous respect for our franchise’s history,” said Titans President Burke Nihill in a statement Thursday morning. “But we believe it’s time to fully embrace our identity as the Tennessee Titans and build a future that’s uniquely ours.”
As part of the shift, the Titans will make “Titans Blue”—a lighter, vibrant blue—their primary jersey color for home games moving forward. The new look will feature a cleaner, modern aesthetic while keeping key elements of the team’s traditional sword and flame motif.
Sources inside the organization say the decision was also influenced by a desire to “unify the brand,” especially as the team moves forward under new general manager Mike Borgonzi and aims to revitalize its roster following a 3–14 campaign in 2024.
The news was met with mixed reactions on social media. Some Titans fans praised the move as a step toward creating a stronger, more authentic team identity in Nashville, while others expressed disappointment over losing one of the most iconic uniform designs in NFL history.
Meanwhile, many in Houston applauded the decision. The Texans’ organization has previously lobbied the league and spoken out publicly about their objection to the Titans wearing Oilers throwbacks—arguing that the “Luv Ya Blue” legacy and the Oilers’ history should remain with the city, not the franchise.
“We appreciate the respect being shown to the city of Houston and our football heritage,” said a spokesperson from the Houston mayor’s office. “The Oilers will always be part of Houston’s story.”
NFL uniform expert Paul Lukas described the Titans’ decision as “one of the most significant branding moves in recent years,” noting that teams rarely walk away from highly marketable throwback designs.
While the throwback uniforms will be retired from the field, the Titans say they will continue to honor the franchise’s past through digital storytelling, merchandise, and curated history features for fans.
With a top draft pick in hand and a fresh look on the horizon, the 2025 season marks a symbolic reset for the Titans—one focused not on where they came from, but on where they’re going.