NASHVILLE (Tenn.) -- Floyd Reese was the general manager that assembled the roster for Tennessee Titans' Super Bowl appearance. He died Saturday. He was 73 years old.
The team was informed by his family of his death. According to ESPN 102.5 The Game's social media posts, Reese was diagnosed with cancer and was at his family's funeral when he died.
Reese was a coach and executive for 21 years at the Oilers/Titans and is still the most successful general manager in franchise history.
Amy Adams Strunk, controlling owner, stated that he was the general manager and built a team that experienced sustained success. He also helped guide the franchise through the most difficult of times and the greatest moments. His keen eye for talent helped him find some of the most talented players in the history of the team, which led to some of our greatest achievements."
Reese will be inducted into this year's team's Ring of Honor.
He drafted three Associated Press NFL rookies of the year, starting with Eddie George in 1996 and Jevon Kearse 1999. Then he drafted Vince Young 2006. Steve McNair was named the No. He was the 3rd overall pick in his second draft, as general manager of then-Houston Oilers. McNair and George were the key building blocks, Reese said.
Reese stated that "it was magic" in 2019, before George and McNair were retired. After spending time with these guys, Reese said, "Hey, if you can build a group of these type of guys, then we're going be OK."
Reese selected Kearse as No. The final piece of the Super Bowl team was 16th overall in 1999. Kearse was the anchor of the defense, with 14 sacks. This is still a rookie record.
The Titans were 13-3 in that season and reached the Super Bowl as wild-card teams. They lost 23-16 to St. Louis Rams.
Tennessee won 104-72 in 1999-2009 for a winning percentage of.591. However, Reese's contract wasn't renewed after 2006 season. Jeff Fisher was still coach. In that time, Tennessee was outscored by New England, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis.
Reese served as the Oilers' linebackers coach for four years before he became the assistant general manager in the front office. Reese was appointed GM at the same time that the NFL introduced the salary cap. This, Reese stated in 1997, was the most difficult challenge he had faced in his job.
Reese stated in 1997 that "No team has ever had to rebuild like we have" due to the salary structure and seven-year playoff run. "We are partway there; hopefully, we can complete this task."
Reese also hired Fisher to coach the team after Fisher had been interim coach during the 2-14 season 1994.
Reese, Fisher and the rest of Fisher managed the franchise's exit from Houston in July 1997. The Tennessee Oilers were playing that season in Memphis, 1998 at Vanderbilt University and 1998 at Vanderbilt University. There was also a team office behind a Nashville doctors' building.
The Titans were renamed after the 1999 season. They reached two AFC Championship Games in the following four seasons. New England lost in the divisional playoffs in January 2004.
Reese was also an analyst on ESPN's NFL Live, and wrote for ESPN.com prior to joining the Patriots in 2009 as a senior football advisor. Later, he worked as a sports radio host in Nashville.
Reese, a Springfield, Missouri native, was a linebacker at UCLA between 1966 and '69. Reese was a defensive lineman in the Canadian Football League for one season.
In 1970, he began his coaching career at Liberty Union High School, Brentwood, California. He then returned to school in 1971 as an assistant for three seasons. In 1974, he was an assistant at Georgia Tech.
Reese was a strength coach in Detroit for the NFL in 1975. In 1978, he was the same job in San Francisco. Bud Grant hired him in Minnesota as a linebackers coach and special teams coach. In 1984, he was promoted to the position of defensive coordinator.
Sally, his wife and children, as well as grandchildren, are his survivors.
