Houston Oilers: A Historical Overview

From the AFL to the NFL

The Houston Oilers originated as an American Football League (AFL) franchise in 1960. Their iconic logo featured a blue football with an oil derrick superimposed on it, paying homage to the city's oil industry. The Oilers played in the AFL until 1969, when they merged with the National Football League (NFL).

The NFL Era

In the NFL, the Oilers continued to use their original logo. However, they underwent several uniform and branding updates over the years. In 1970, the team adopted a white helmet with a red, white, and blue stripe. They also introduced a new jersey design featuring a large "Oilers" wordmark across the chest.

In 1997, the Oilers relocated to Tennessee and were renamed the Tennessee Titans. The team brought their original logo with them but updated the colors slightly. In 1999, the Titans unveiled a new logo that combined elements of the old Oilers logo with a modern design.

The XFL Revival

In 2020, the XFL was revived, and a new Houston Roughnecks team was founded. The Roughnecks shared their name with the former Oilers mascot, and their logo bore a striking resemblance to the old Oilers logo. However, the XFL folded shortly after the 2020 season.