WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO HOUSTON OILERS OWNER BUD ADAMS' HALL OF FAME CHANCES?

In the late 1950’s, Bud Adams partnered with Lamar Hunt to establish the American Football League, which would challenge the rival NFL’s dominance and eventually spawn a merger between the two leagues. With that, Bud Adams legacy was cemented as an early founder who helped shape the NFL as we know it today. So why after so many years is Bud Adams not a member of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. In today’s video we’ll take a look back at the history of some of Bud Adams’s most controversial moves and why that may be keeping him from enshrinement to the hall.
Here's what this "Bud Adams and Houston Oilers History" video covers:
On a plane ride back from being rejected by NFL Commissioner Bell, Lamar Hunt came up with the idea of starting his own football league, one that would rival the NFL. Hunt then approached Bud Adams and other businessmen (some of whom had also made failed attempts to buy an NFL team), and asked them to join his league instead. Hunt planned to start a team in Dallas, and thought it would be perfect for Bud Adams to have a team in Houston, creating a natural rivalry between the two teams. On August 3, 1959 in Bud Adams’ boardroom, the brand new team owners got together to announce the formation of the American Football League, and nicknamed themselves “The Foolish Club” for their seemingly unwise attempt to take on the imposing NFL.
The history of the Houston Oilers begins here, where Bud Adams drawing from his own family's background in the oil business, called his new team the “Houston Oilers”. In the early years of the franchise, A major Houston Oilers highlight was that they achieved immediate success appearing in the first three AFL championship games. By the mid 1960’s, the AFL had firmly established itself as a real threat to the NFL’s dominance and in 1966 it was officially announced that the two leagues would merge. Post merger, the team’s fortunes would begin to change around the mid to late 1970’s, with the arrival of charismatic head coach Bum Phillps, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, and future hall of farmers Elvin Bethea and Earl Campbell. This core group became a sensation in Houston and would usher in a new era of Oilers’ football dubbed, “Luv Yah Blue”. Some of the early Houston Oilers Earl Campbell highlights were his rookie of the year win, and helping the Oilers make the AFC championship game two years in a row in 1978 and 1979. However, the game would feature a back to back match up of the Houston Oilers vs Pittsburgh Steelers (with the Steelers winning both times). The Bum Phillips and Earl Campbell, Luv Ya Blue era would be short lived however, as by 1984 both of the fan favorites had left the team.
During the Oilers struggles throughout the 1980s, Bud Adams continued to grow increasingly frustrated with the Houston Oilers stadium situation. By the mid 1980’s, Bud Adams actually threatened to move the team to Jacksonville Florida if the Astrodome wasn’t brought up to date with new renovations. Harris County, where the Astrodome is located, offered to pay for improvements to the aging stadium. By the end of 1993, even with the improvements to the Astrodome just six years prior, Bud Adams continued to threaten to leave Houston if no new stadium deal could be agreed upon. The city of Houston had no interest in spending more money to build a new stadium after the most recent costly renovations. A secret meeting was then set up between Nashville’s mayor Phil Bredsen and Bud Adams about potentially relocating to Tennessee, leaving many to wonder what happened to the Houston Oilers? Nashville even offered to pay 144 million towards building a new stadium plus another 70 million to cover ticket sales. With this enticing offer, and the lack of momentum for a new stadium in Houston, it became clear that Bud Adams wasn’t going to get the funding necessary to build a new stadium in Houston. With that, it was revealed during the 1995 season that the Oilers leaving Houston had become a reality. The Oilers moving to Tennessee for the 1998 season, was the final nail in the coffin for Houston football fans. On November 14, 1998 the Oilers officially changed their name to the “Tennessee Titans”. The team would still hold onto all the Oilers old team records, and history. With one last slap to the face of Houston fans, the NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue moved to retire the name “Oilers” so that no other future NFL team in Houston could have that name.
So what did you guys think about Bud Adams not yet being a member of the NFL Hall Of Fame? Do you think he belongs there for all of the things Adams did before the Oilers left Houston, or do you think he should remain out of the hall for adding the Oilers to defunct teams? Let me know in the comments below!
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WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO HOUSTON OILERS OWNER BUD ADAMS' HALL OF FAME CHANCES?

[@AllSportsHistory]

Hey everyone! What did you guys think about Bud Adams not yet being a member of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame? Do you think he belongs there, or do you think he should remain out of the hall? Let me know in the comments below!

[@davidlafleche1142]

Bud Adams was not justified in moving the Oilers. He is a disgrace.

[@bigglilwayne7050]

Bud Adams deserves to be in the Hall Of Shame, not the Hall Of Fame....

[@angistiew1689]

Can you do a Colorado Rockies video 1976-1982

[@23Robusto]

I moved to Houston the year they drafted Earl Cambell and lived through all the Luv ya Blue times. Bud once told reporters that the players were spending too much time doing charity work and not enough time on the practice field. That should tell you everything you need to know about that $%^&*&^. So glad he's gone.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yep that does sound something Bud Adams would say lol

[@erikriggs4954]

Glad to see you did one involving a sports franchise owner. Anyways. I got a few suggestions: Why is High School Football popular in Texas? How did Don Shula become the NFL's winningest coach? The fascinating story of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium What happened to the Atlanta Flames? Why is PNC Park so special? The Rise and Fall of Cookie Cutter Stadiums. What happened in the Malace in the Palace?

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thanks! Yeah plan to some more on stadiums so the cookie cutter one would be a good idea to add to my list :)

[@robertbrauer6718]

I wish KZbin would have let you include the clip of Bud Adams flipping double birds to the Bills from his suite back in 2009! I guess if Ralph Wilson was elected to the Hall of Fame, maybe Adams should be too. Owners stand a better chance of getting to the hall if they are simply able to hang around long enough (unless they're Bill Bidwill, of course).

[@AllSportsHistory]

Haha yeah I thought about it, but the NFL likes to issue take down notices of stuff like that sometimes so I opted not to add it in. I wish the copyright stuff was easier to prove as free use but oh well 🤷

[@Joseph__time]

Here before it's popular

[@AllSportsHistory]

The OG comment!

[@terrencecarter1915]

Another fact, he transferred to Kansas from a Junior college called, Menlo College in Atherton, California. About 7 miles from Stanford University. Only reason I know that is because I graduated from Menlo, which is now a 4 year private college.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah that is interesting, good to know!

[@WDI2008]

4:01 Pete Rozelle would have harder dealing with Raiders owner Al Davis as opposed to Oilers owner Bud Adams.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yep very true!

[@alexfoster71]

I’ve been a fan of his franchise since they moved to Tennessee before the 1997 season. First two seasons didn’t have many fans in college stadiums. Not everything about his ownership was bad, but I don’t think Bud’s teams won enough for him to have earned a spot in the Hall of Fame. He made a bunch of people mad with bad decisions and threats of relocation. I don’t think Art Modell deserves a HOF spot either, even though his 2000 Ravens won the Super Bowl.

[@KWCline91]

Trying to put aside my Houston out of the way for this response, but when you think of owners in the Hall-of-Fame like Jerry Jones, Pat Bowlen, Eddie DeBartolo, Ralph Wilson and the Rooney's, what have they done to get their place in the Hall-of-Fame? Win. Sure, the Oilers were a mini-dynasty in the early 60's under Adams' guidance, but other than that, they didn't do anything and he did make some controversial decisions. Sure Art Modell pulled off a similar thing with the Browns, but he wasn't as boisterous about it as Adams was. Adams was just an owner who tried to get his way that he rubbed the city the wrong way and unfortunately due to his egoness, took the rights of the Oilers from a city that truly deserves it. If Adams was less of an arrogant prick, he would get it. Jerry Jones would also qualify as such, but he wasn't what Adams was and he's in the hall-of-fame. At the end of the day, barring any last minute surprise, Adams sealed his fate with all that he did moving the Oilers to Tennessee and spurning the city. So therefore, it's a no for if he should be inducted.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah that makes sense, winning and being a part of the overall story of the NFL’s history is a really important factor. Adams had some of that partially, by being a founder of the AFL but like you said he never really was able to turn the Oilers into much of a winning organization. But It wouldn’t shock me if say in the year 2059, during the 100th anniversary of the AFL, the hall of fame decides to induct Adams.

[@gb6710]

Could you do a video on the history of Lambeau Field?

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah Lambeau is a good one to cover, hopefully I can get to that one soon!

[@shaquillerollins708]

Next videos should be the relocation of the Atlanta flames, relocation and return of the Winnipeg jets and another defunct team of your choice

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah some people have asked for a Arizona coyotes video, so that will probably be my next hockey video. I have some other ideas as well, but yours are good suggestions too!

[@sjdrifter72]

Why? because he was a thief and a scoundrel. The Oilers name and legacy belongs to Houston and not Tennessee nor to the Adams Family (snap, snap).

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah it’s a crime that Houston couldn’t use the Oilers name or history.

[@classicrockbeagle]

Word

[@bigglilwayne7050]

@@AllSportsHistory Houston deserved to get the Cleveland Browns treatment... Go ahead and move the team to Baltimore, but the Browns name stays in Cleveland.... Speaking of Baltimore, the Colts name should've never been allowed to move to Indianapolis...

[@littleblackduck3134]

Absolutely, his financial loan to the Raider franchise kept them and maybe the league from folding. He should be placed right next to Lamar Hunt in the HOF

[@AllSportsHistory]

Interesting take!

[@terencemenifee2506]

Actually it was Ralph Wilson, owner of the Buffalo Bills, who loaned the money to the Oakland Raiders to keep them afloat.

[@mrterp04]

3:32 Billy Cannon drew lots of fans as a player, but it was in the 80s when he was really printing money.

[@RTRT-pw4sh]

The city refused to build a new stadium for the Oilers. They were without a team for a few years. Were fortunate to get a second team.

[@jameskeys971]

All of the additions to the Astrodome that Bud Adams wanted would have been accomplished. BUT not on his schedule! Taxpayer money should never be used for any sports team.

[@silentstarproductions2469]

New video idea: “What happened to the Arizona Coyotes?”

[@AllSportsHistory]

I have a couple I’m working on, but this is high up on my list!

[@mrterp04]

@@AllSportsHistoryI know your video will be better than the hackneyed “hOcKeY iN tHe DeSeRt!?!?!1!” take most give.

[@Chudley716]

He seemed like a jerk. Glad he didn’t win a Super Bowl and suffered the historic playoff collapse in Buffalo.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah he seemed like a Mr. Burns type figure, just out of touch.

[@RTRT-pw4sh]

Hindsight is 20/20 of course. However, looking back over the city's history in the NFL ( Texans and Oilers) The city would have been better off giving Adams what he wanted and put restrictions in place that would have prevented him from ever moving the Oilers.

[@cmdrflake]

He made multiple enemies in the ranks of the other team’s by acting like Al Davis later on. The way he left Houston really angered all except Al Davis.

[@TheManny717]

Only time will tell if he is in. Personally, he burned a lot of bridges to get to what he wanted until his passing at the age of 90 now- 11 years ago!?!?!? Time does go by.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Hard to believes it’s been over a decade already!

[@bigglilwayne7050]

The bigger question is, "How many times a year does Bud Adams' headstone get urinated on, seeing as he had the audacity to be buried in Houston Texas??

[@AllSportsHistory]

Probably have to have it gated or blocked off somehow.

[@bigglilwayne7050]

@@AllSportsHistoryknowing how despised he is, I could see people filling super soakers with piss to spray it from afar😂😂😂😂

[@coreylevine8095]

Just like Georgia Frontiere is buried in Los Angeles after moving the Rams to St Louis

[@bigglilwayne7050]

@@coreylevine8095 The Rams weren't nearly as beloved in LA as the Oilers were in Houston

[@adamrmattock1]

Please do one on the Arizona Coyotes

[@AllSportsHistory]

For sure, it’s high up on my to do list!

[@tubefaze]

I will always have a dislike for Adams for taking away my beloved Oilers from the city of Houston. However, his impact on the AFL and the NFL cannot be denied. Yes, he should be in the HOF.

[@jamesmoss3424]

Bud Adams should be in the pro football hall of Fame one day. 😀👍🏈

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah it’s tough because you can’t tell the history of the NFL without him but he also did some shady stuff to Houston that left a lot of people pissed off.

[@jamesmoss3424]

@@AllSportsHistory I agree it's time for the NFL to let him to have his this one.

[@ericveneto1593]

Rozelle was the PR guy IIRC.

[@jbj7599]

Got er fixed i see!

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah weird upload issue that I didn’t catch, all good now!

[@RTRT-pw4sh]

They ultimately still had to build that new stadium to get a new team. Unfortunately, that new team, Texans, have been a much bigger failure and flop than the Oilers were.

[@ericlehman6841]

Does Bud Adams belong in the Hall of Fame or not?

[@darryljorden9177]

It's "Lamar" not "Lumar".

[@AllSportsHistory]

Sorry my "A"s sound like "U"s sometimes, I'll try to be more conscientious about it.

[@darryljorden9177]

@@AllSportsHistory Your pronunciation is fine. You misspelled his name on picture you had of him.

[@BobbyMoore2-mp8wb]

The Houston Oilers are now the Tennessee Titans😊

[@RTRT-pw4sh]

The Oilers were pretenders and heartbreakers. They always choked or found ways to always come up short in the end.

[@RTRT-pw4sh]

They were still far more successful than the Texans. The Texans have been a complete failure that matches the Detroit Lions overall failure in the league for so many seasons. (Prior to the Lions recent success.)