The only man who ever has owned the Tennessee Titans, which entered the AFL in 1960 as the Houston Oilers, died last week at the age of 90. On Tuesday, his son-in-law became the team’s new president and CEO.
The Titans announced that Tommy Smith will run the team, for now. Though the name will be new to most outside of the organization, coach Mike Munchak, a three-plus-decade employee of the franchise, said that Smith has been “very much in the loop for years,” according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
Also, Susie Adams Smith and Amy Adams Hunt, the daughters of Bud Adams (pictured), will serve as co-chairpersons of the team. Bud Adams’ grandson, Kenneth Adams IV, will become a member of the board of directors.
“Through the years, our families and I have been consistently updated on all aspects of the organization from football operations to the business side from those who run those areas and we will continue those interactions on a daily basis,” Tommy Smith said in a statement issued by the team. “We will be taking all the necessary steps, in concert with the league office, to remain in compliance with league rules in our ownership structure. That process will not be immediate, but it has begun.
“Until we gain that approval, we will stay out of the spotlight, but know that we are directing the organization and staying informed of daily activities. The continuity and knowledge I have gained in decades of being involved with the team will aid our organization during this transition.”
Susie Adams Smith and Amy Adams Hunt each own a third of the team. The other third belongs to the family of Bud Adams’ late son, Kenneth Adams III.
Eventually, a controlling owner will be selected, and the other owners will be asked to approve the proposed ownership structure.