- Published in Top 50 Tennessee Titans
1. Bruce Matthews
The decision to make Bruce Matthews the greatest Oiler/Titan, was a very simple one. Matthews is not only one of the most prolific Offensive Lineman in the last 50 years; he is also the most versatile and durable.
Matthews was an iron man of sorts, playing an astounding 296 Regular Season Games (currently 14th all-time) and starting 293 of them. Matthews, who was taken ninth overall in 1983, hit his stride in his sixth season, beginning a 14-year streak of Pro Bowls, which is tied for the most ever. Matthews was a seven-time First Team All-Pro, which he accomplished at three different positions, Right Guard, Center, and Left Guard. This ability to excel at different slots at the Offensive Line was invaluable to the Oilers/Titans, who could use other Lineman to their strengths.
Playing until 2001, Matthews is still in the top ten all-time in Approximate Value (226), and he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Matthews was named to the 1990s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary Team. The Titans retired his number 74 in 2002 and installed him in their franchise RIng of Honor the same year.