Tennessee Titans: Would Eddie George make a good owner?

By Nick Ziegler | Mar 30, 2015

In all professional sports, having good ownership is arguably the most important thing. If an owner doesn’t care about the team, it will have a tough time succeeding.

The Tennessee Titans are in the midst of ownership change, which could prolong their rebuilding.

In October of 2013, longtime Titans owner Bud Adams passed away. That has led to a division in ownership between his daughters Susie Adams Smith and Amy Adams Strunk and the family of his son.

Recently, CEO Tommy Smith announced his retirement from the team after 40 years with the franchise, and that raised questions about whether or not the team would be up for sale. With Smith retiring, Steve Underwood has taken over control on an interim basis. Underwood retired in 2011 after 35 years with the franchise, with the final six seasons being the senior executive vice president.

The Titans have their coach and general manager still in place with Ken Whisenhunt and Ruston Webster, but finding a new team president will be important for the franchise.

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There is always the possibility that the family could sell the team. In the past few years, the struggles on the field have affected their attendance, and the family may look to cash in on what would be a big sell.

One of the more interesting names to surface that has interest in buying the Titans is their former running back Eddie George.

“My dream is to be an owner of the Titans and bring a Super Bowl to Nashville”. George told Fox17.com in a recent interview “To build a new state-of-the-art stadium which doesn’t have that corporate feel and creates a great fan experience. If Indianapolis can do it, why can’t we? Think of the economic impact bringing the Super Bowl to this town would make. It would be unreal and the city is ready for that.”

George was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1996, one season before they made the move to Tennessee. He left his impact on Tennessee with a great career. George would play eight seasons with the Titans’ franchise, and he totaled 10,009 rushing yards, and 64 rushing touchdowns with the team. George would make the Pro Bowl four straight seasons and helped led the Titans to the Super Bowl in 1999.

Aug 24, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; The Tennessee Titans mascot performs before a game between the Titans and the Atlanta Falcons at LP Field. The Titans beat the Falcons 27-16. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

He may not have held the Lombardi Trophy as a player, but that doesn’t mean he can’t help his former team win a Super Bowl one day. George is not a billionaire, but he can become the leader of a partnership group to buy the team. Magic Johnson did something similar to what George would like to do, and the Los Angeles Dodgers have been very successful since he became a part owner.

George is still very much involved in Tennessee. He has a landscape firm in the city and is now going to be the treasurer for mayoral candidate Howard Gentry. In addition to helping Gentry’s campaign, George teaches a curriculum at Ohio State, which helps teach good business practices. George has been very successful since his football career has ended.

If the Tennessee Titans were to become available, George would make an excellent part-owner to help turn around the franchise.

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