Have you ever stopped to wonder about the way NFL teams change their logos so regularly? Has there ever been a team that simply stuck with the same logo throughout its history?
The truth is that some franchises could claim to use the same logo for their entire history, although the situation is different in each case.
The Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans Primary Logo 1999 - Present
To understand the evolution of the Tennessee Titans’ logo, we need to go back to 1959. This was the year the team was formed under the name of the Houston Oilers and played in Texas. Their logo was an oil rig derrick called Ol’ Riggy that remained in place the entire time they went by this name. The only changes during the period in Texas were the logo's color.
They moved to Tennessee in 1997, playing in Memphis for a year before heading to their new home in Nashville. For a short time, their name was the Tennessee Oilers, and their logo was a mixture of the Tennessee flag and the derrick from their time in Texas; they also changed to wearing white uniforms in home games.
1999 saw the franchise change its name to the Tennessee Titans and introduce the logo they still use. This is a circle that contains the letter T and three processes that are there to represent the three Grand Divisions in the state. The colors of the uniform, the helmet, and the logo have changed over the years since then, but the design of the logo has remained the same.
This means that if we only count the Tennessee Titans name, they’ve used the same logo throughout their history. However, if we go back to the franchise's start under a different name and location, we can see two very other logos used, with an intermediate one using both designs for a couple of years. Most Titans fans will only remember seeing the current logo. As for their future, the latest football odds suggest they could go one better than last year and make it to their second Super Bowl.
The Las Vegas Raiders
Sports Logo History Las Vegas Raiders Primary Logo 2020 - Present
This case is similar to that of the Tennessee Titans, as we have a team that changed name and location, meaning that their logo could be considered the same since the start of the new incarnation. Their history began in 1960 when they were formed in Oakland under the name of the Oakland Raiders. However, in 2022 the franchise moved to Las Vegas and changed its name to include that city. Ironically, they were already the first team to play an NFL game in the town when they played the Houston Oilers at the new Allegiant Stadium in the 1960s.
Their logo was initially designed to show a man with a helmet and an eye patch, with actor Randolph Scott said to be partly the inspiration for the strong-jawed character. Behind him, a pair of crossed swords added to the pirate feel. The general idea behind this logo has remained in place since then, although the blades soon moved inside the badge rather than outside the football the first Raider was on.
It’s still recognizable from the original logo, with only minor differences. However, it’s the change of name that allows Las Vegas Raiders fans to say that they’ve always used the same logo.
The Houston Texans
Houston Texans Primary Logo 2006 - Present
This next team’s history is linked to the Titans, as they were formed in 1999 to replace that team when they moved from Texas to Tennessee. Their time as an expansion team in the NFL began in 2002, and they’re the newest team to play in the pro football league. The Texans compete in the AFC South Division and haven’t yet managed to get to the Super Bowl or win a playoff game on the road.
An extended period of consultation and creativity took place before the team played its first game. Owner Bob McNair went to great lengths to find a name, colors, and logo for the Houston Texans that would resonate with local sports fans. There’s no doubt that he and his consultants did a great job, as the name and image they came up with have captured the imagination of fans in Texas, and it remains a powerful logo.
The team logo is based on a bull’s head, but it’s been cleverly drawn in an abstract way so that it kind of shows us the Texas flag as well as the state itself. The bull has a lone star symbol for its eye, and the image was done in red. White and blue. The colors of the helmet and the uniform have changed several times since the beginning, but this bull’s head design has remained in place. For the 2022 season, their first-round draft pick Derek Stingley Jr is expected to have a significant impact.
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