The Tennessee Titans lost a legend this weekend, as former general manager Floyd Reese died at the age of 73. The news was broken by ESPN 102.5 The Game in Nashville, which reported that Reese died while he was surrounded by his family after a battle with cancer.
Reese is the winningest general manager in Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise history, and helped build the Titans into a Super Bowl contender once they made the move to Nashville. The former linebackers coach began his executive career as an assistant general manager with the Oilers in 1990, and took over as GM in 1994, where he remained until 2006.
“This is a sad day for our Titans family,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement, via the Titans’ official website. “I would like to send along my deepest condolences to Floyd’s wife, Sally, to his children, grandchildren and extended family. Floyd spent over two decades with our franchise in a variety of roles – position coach, assistant general manager and ultimately, general manager – and he excelled at all of them. As general manager, he built a team that saw sustained success and helped guide our franchise in the toughest of times and the highest moments. His keen eye for talent led him to some of the best players in our team’s history, which led the team to some of our greatest accomplishments. We look forward to remembering and honoring his legacy this season as he is formally inducted into our Ring of Honor.”
Reese drafted several Titans legends, including quarterback Steve McNair, running back Eddie George and defensive end Jevon Kearse. McNair was named the co-MVP in 2003 while George and Kearse won Rookies of the Year in their respective first seasons. Reese collected another Rookie of the Year in Vince Young in 2006.
Reese guided the franchise in its move to Tennessee. After a couple seasons as the Tennessee Oilers, they were renamed the Titans and made Super Bowl XXXIV in their first season with the new moniker. Of the 22 starters for the Titans in that Super Bowl, 13 were drafted by Reese, according to the Titans’ website.
Reese spent a total of 21 years with the Oilers and Titans as an assistant coach and an executive. He will be inducted into the Titans’ Ring of Honor alongside the head coach he hired, Jeff Fisher, and O.A “Bum” Phillips, this fall. The Titans would simply not be the franchise they are today without Reese’s guidance, and he will be missed.