USA TODAY — Marcus Mariota and several teammates strode on stage as the Titans revealed their long-awaited new uniforms during a packed street party Wednesday night in downtown Nashville.
The event, which also featured a free Florida Georgia Line concert and fireworks, drew as many as 20,000 spectators.
"This is that fierce, tough, Titan look that we all wanted," linebacker Brian Orakpo said. "I was kind of skeptical at first with the whole new uniform change and things like that, because you got so accustomed to the old ones. But these, we're going to love them. I know the rest of the guys are going to love them, too."
The familiar “two-tone blue” color scheme and fireball logo remain the primary calling cards for the franchise, which is entering its 20th season as the Titans.
Major changes were made to the helmet, jersey font and shoulders. Nike senior product director Kelly Morris, art director Tom Andrich and NFL creative director Shandon Melvin explained the design elements in interviews with The Tennessean.
The helmet color has shifted to a metallic navy after decades of the team wearing white. The facemask has changed to silver, as has the outline of the fireball logo. A stripe, which is inspired by the sword, also incorporates silver and begins in the rear of the helmet and tapers toward the front. The word "Tennessee" appears on the back bumper.
The Titans will wear navy jerseys at home and white on the road. Columbia blue and red are used as accents. Columbia blue also remains the dominant color for the team’s Color Rush and alternate jerseys.
The jersey font is meant to invoke a chiseled-in-stone Greek look and includes a notch jutting from the top right of each number, a nod to the outline of the state of Tennessee. It may be the thinnest font in the league. The word "Titans" remains at the center neck on the chest. It's been slightly modified, using highlights and shadows, to look bolder. The word "Tennessee," which sits within the arc, is now a bolder font.
Two-tone silver shoulders, which narrow to a point on the sleeves, are intended to represent the Titans’ sword. The familiar secondary sword logo has been removed from the shoulders altogether.
Three red stars on the inside of the rear collar are a nod to the Tennessee state flag.
The uniforms also include angled silver striping on the pant legs, which are meant to invoke a sword's sheath.
The Titans must maintain this look for a minimum of five years, per NFL rule.
"I think they're awesome. I'm a big fan," left tackle Taylor Lewan said. "I think when that photo got leaked (online of a jersey, two days before the official unveiling), obviously Ms. Amy (controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk) was pretty upset, but it didn't do it justice of the whole entire helmet and the pants and everything.
"I love the fact that it's not a dramatic change, but it definitely has those new flairs and everything that will definitely inspire the younger public. I think it'll bring a little more of a facelift to this team, and I'm really excited about that."
The franchise, founded as the Houston Oilers in 1960, re-branded in 1999, the last time the team revamped its uniforms.
Four former Titans players who were on hand when the franchise unveiled its Titans uniforms in 1999 also participated in this event: Craig Hentrich, Blaine Bishop, Frank Wycheck and Eddie George.
"A lot of things go through my mind," George said. "One is how fast 20 years flies by. Number two, how the old uniform now is officially a throwback. That's also eye-opening and enlightening in the same breath...
"The blue helmet really sets it off. I'm really thrilled with the outcome."
Mike Keith, the Titans' senior director of broadcasting, served as the emcee for the public unveiling.
Players modeling the jerseys included Mariota, Orakpo, Lewan, Delanie Walker, Kevin Byard and Jurrell Casey.
Coach Mike Vrabel, general manager Jon Robinson and Strunk – who had the final say on uniform design – also participated in the unveiling.
"I was actually hearing from the old guys," Byard said. "When they had the uniform change, (they went to) the Super Bowl, so you know we're going to try to repeat the same thing they did."
The Titans lost to the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta, famously falling one yard short of the potential game-tying touchdown. Next year's Super Bowl is also in Atlanta.
