The Tennessee Titans aren’t a franchise that you’d recognize right off the bat. They’re located in a once small, but now booming capital in the mid-south, and haven’t ridden on much success except for the early times of when the Houston Oilers moved to Nashville.
But with the again, now booming capital in the mid-south, and being located in one of the hottest cities in America, you’d think the Titans would add some sort of appeal. Some sort of flash that’d newcomers would love to hang on to and experience.
That hasn’t been the case though.
You can easily recognize let’s say the logos or some sort of player of some of the more prominent franchises across the NFL.
The Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger? Most definitely. The Cowboys and Michael Irvin? Oh for sure. The Giants and Eli Manning? You bet. Even the Patriots, who were once a middle of the road franchise themselves, have their franchise selling point in a 41-year-old QB once selected out of Michigan in Tom Brady.
The Tennessee Titans have….well the electrifying stories of Steve McNair and Eddie George. The explosive play of Jevon Kearse. Plus the steadiness of Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason.
Those are all good names that have provided the Titans with some of their best play in the history of the franchise. Problem is, those names are players who contributed to the Titans in the early 2000s. Not too close to the modern era of today.
Stars in big markets like Ezekiel Elliott, Khalil Mack, and previously Odell Beckham Jr. have dominated headlines. No offense to their play at all, as those 3 above are some of the best talents the league has to offer. But Elliott is dominating in Jerry’s World. Mack destroyed offensive lineman in Oakland and now Chicago, both boast 2 of the league’s greatest fan bases and brands. Beckham broke records in New York, playing for the prestigious New York Giants.
The Titans have…headlines surrounding their QB about whether he can live up to the #2 overall pedigree. I mean that’s it. No talk about the consistent play of Jurrell Casey, or the nastiness of Taylor Lewan, even arguably the best safety in the league in Kevin Byard couldn’t get recognized by NFL great Deion Sanders.
So this all begs the thinking of, how do the Titans not have at least some sort of respectable national appeal? Well, the answer lies within the franchise itself. The Titans haven’t had any type of playoff appearance consistency since the days of Steve McNair. Only getting to the playoffs twice in the last 11 years, including a drought of 8 seasons without a playoff game.
Even going 14 seasons without even winning a single postseason contest.
There’s also the constant turnover in the franchise. From the coaching staff to the front office, there’s been no consistent mainstay in this franchise.
Add all those factors plus the fact that the Titans have done a poor job marketing their selves, and you get a franchise that no one on the national level is begging to dissect.
So how do you get rid of this problem? Well, it starts at the ground and continues all the way up. Meaning from the team marketing itself, all the way to the product put on the field.
Start with a better atmosphere around the team. Be a go-to event for locals every Sunday/Monday Night/Thursday Night. Not just some afterthought that reminds locals that you’re there.
Of course, winning will help with the lack of national appeal. But who says the Titans can take the next step and be a consistent GREAT winner?
It also wouldn’t hurt to have some personalities on the team that catches the eye of many.
My good friend Mike Herndon had an excellent idea on improving the Titans’ brand locally in their own home. You can check that out here.
Until the brand can improve starting from the ground up, the Titans will be stuck with flaming thumbtack nickname.
Time’s ticking.