Have the Titans ever had a number 1 pick?

The professional American football team, the Tennessee Titans of Nashville, plays in the South Division of the AFC and NFL. Formerly known as the Houston Oilers, the team joined the American Football League as a charter member in 1960. Prior to entering the NFL as a result of the AFL-NFL merger, the Houston Oilers won two AFL championships.

The Tennessee Titans had the most remarkable season since their NFL debut in 1999, going all the way to Super Bowl XXXIV before losing to the Kurt Warner-led St. Louis Rams at the one-yard line. The Titans officially play their home games at Nissan Stadium; their new stadium is under construction as of 2024 and will be completed by 2027.

The Titans have chosen 60 players in the first round since the team's inaugural draft. Billy Cannon was the team's territorial selection and the first-round pick of the inaugural AFL draft, a halfback from LSU. The Titans selected Earl Campbell in 1978 and John Matuszak in 1973 with the first overall pick. Northwestern guard Peter Skoronski was the team's most recent first-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Tennessee Titans History

Established in 1959 by Houston oil businessman Bud Adams, the team was previously called the Houston Oilers. He had ownership until his passing in 2013. The team joined the American Football League (AFL) as a charter member and started playing in Houston, Texas, in 1960.

Following the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the Oilers—who had already won four division titles and the first two AFL championships—joined the NFL. The Oilers, led by Hall of Famers Earl Campbell and Warren Moon, qualified for the playoffs in 1978–1980 and 1987–1993, respectively.

The Oilers moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1997, and while they waited for the construction of a new stadium, they played one season at Memphis' Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. In 1998, the team relocated to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville.

After relocating to Adelphia Coliseum, which is now Nissan Stadium, in 1999, the team, which had played as the Tennessee Oilers for the previous two seasons, adopted the name Titans. Their training facility is located on 31 acres of the MetroCenter complex in Nashville, on Saint Thomas Sports Park.

In 2000, the Titans participated in Super Bowl XXXIV and were defeated by the St. Louis Rams 23–16. The team, led by Steve McNair and Eddie George, missed only one playoff between 1999 and 2003; however, in the next 13 seasons, they missed 11 playoffs.

From 2016 to 2021, the Titans won six straight seasons and made four playoff spots. The only NFL team with two players who have each rushed for 2,000 yards in a season is the Titans, with Derrick Henry (2020) and Chris Johnson (2009).

Tennessee Titans No. 1 Draft Picks

The Tennessee Titans have had two No. 1 draft picks since they were known as the Houston Oilers; a defensive end John Matuszak in 1973 and running back Earl Campbell in 1978.

The Houston Oilers selected Matuszak, a defensive end from the Tampa Spartans, with their first overall pick in the 1973 NFL Draft. He signed a contract with the Houston Texans of the World Football League (WFL) in addition to his Oilers contract.

He played seven games with the Houston Texans before a restraining order was served to him during a game, prohibiting him from having contracts with two teams at once.

In October 1974, the disappointed Oilers traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs for a first-round draft choice in 1975 and Curley Culp, another player who had threatened to defect to the WFL.

The Houston Oilers selected Texas Longhorns running back Campbell with the first overall pick in the 1978 NFL draft. The Oilers acquired the pick from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers through the trade of tight end Jimmie Giles.