The Tennessee Titans have a historied and rich tradition even if you leave aside their days as the Houston Oilers. And ever since they relocated, several great players have had the chance to suit up for them. Some of them don't get the recognition they deserve though, which is something this list will attempt to rectify it.
This isn't about the Steve McNairs or the Keith Bullucks of the world though. Everyone knows how good McNair was and Bullock has been underrated for so long that it's fair to wonder if he's now overrated. This is about players that have donned the Titans uniform but for some reason or another aren't brought up when discussing the team's history. Now is a good time to give them a shoutout but before that, here are a few disclaimers.
- Keith Bullock isn't mentioned for the aforementioned reason.
- Frank Wycheck and Lorenzo Neil played a big role in The Music City Miracle but neither made the cut.
- Also, no Houston Oilers crack on this list, only one and he made it because he also played for the Titans (sorry, no Dan Pastorini).
- Cortland Finnegan almost made the cut but a more prominent defender of the Jeff Fisher era got the nod instead.
With that out of the way, here are five Titans who are routinely underappreciated.
No. 5 most underappreciated player in Titans history: Kyle Vander Bosch
It's easy to forget it now but the Titans had some pretty stout defenses under Jeff Fisher's watch. Maybe it's because he holds the dubious distinction of being tied with Dan Reeves for the most losses in NFL history or perhaps it's his reluctance to adapt and adjust to the NFL in the later years of his coaching career.
Either way, Fisher coached highly talented defenders. Cortland Finnegan is one of them. He even followed Fisher to the St. Louis Rams. Linebacker Keith Bulluck is another but this entry is about defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch?
A second-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals, Vanden Bosch joined the Titans in 2005 and went on to have five highly productive seasons. Besides earning three Pro Bowl selections, he appeared in 74 games and logged 38.5 sacks, 14 fumbles, and 38.5 sacks from 2005-2009.
It's also worth noting that Vanden Bosch was on the Titans team that made the playoffs in 2008. That would be the last year they would qualify for the postseason before experiencing a drought that lasted until 2017. Of course, Vanden Bosch wasn't the only reason Tennessee appeared in the playoffs but he certainly played an important role.
No. 4 most underappreciated player in Titans history: Delanie Walker, TE
This one is from the not-so-distant past. Running back Derrick Henry notwithstanding, the Titans haven't had many skill-position players with name recognition. Wide receiver A.J. Brown was becoming a fan favorite before former general manager Jon Robinson decided to ship him to the Philadephia Eagles in 2022.
Corey Davis was another Titans wideout who had his moments but the only skilled-position player not named Henry that has truly shined in Tennessee the last few years is tight end Delanie Walker.
A sixth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2006, Walker was a dependable but not a great tight end early in his NFL career. He truly exploded (figuratively) when he signed with Tennessee in 2013. In his own words, he chose the Titans because they gave them a legitimate chance to be a starter and he made the most of his opportunity.
The Central Missouri State product proceeded to haul in 354 receptions for 4,156 yards with 26 touchdowns the next five seasons. On top of that, he made the Pro Bowl three straight times from 2015-2018.
Unfortunately, injuries limited Walker to eight games in the next two years. He tried to latch onto a new team after 2019 but didn't find one, so he officially announced his retirement in 2022. It's important to note that the Titans have failed to find a legitimate replacement for Walker since he last played for them. That goes on to show just how valuable he was in Tennessee.
No. 3 most underappreciated player in Titans history: Blaine Bishop, S
There is always an exception to the rule (and oftentimes an exception to the exception) and safety Blaine Bishop, who played four years for the Oilers, made this list of (mostly) Titans players because he often gets overlooked when discussing the top difference-makers in franchise history. And since this is a list of underappreciated players, he definitely had to be in.
Leaving aside technicalities, Bishop was arguably the best safety to play for the Titans before Kevin Byard seized the title. An eight-round pick in 1993, the former Ball State Cardinal became a mainstay of the Oilers' secondary and made three straight Pro Bowls. However, his best season came as a member of the Titans in 2020.
Even though Bishop didn't log an interception that year, he was second in the team with 84 total tackles and his eight passes defensed ranked fourth among Tennessee defenders. On top of that, he earned a Second-Team All-Pro designation and was part of the Titans team that would have won the Super Bowl one year before if that pesky Mike Jones hadn't stopped Kevin Dyson at the one-year line with the game on the line.
A Super Bowl win by the slimmest of margins.
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) January 30, 2019
The last time the @RamsNFL won it all: pic.twitter.com/ji598FIris
When discussing the top safeties in the league in the 2000s, Bishop doesn't often pop up and if does it will most likely be one tier below Steve Atwater, Darren Woodson, and LeRoy Butler. Bishop should be up there, which is why he's getting recognition on this list.
No. 2 most underappreciated player in Titans history: Billy Volek, QB
Steve McNair is one of the most prominent players to ever play for the Titans but he wasn't nearly as good near the end of his stint in Nashville. Sure, he made the Pro Bowl in 2005 but the team's brass moved on from him after that season and drafted Vince Young to take his place. Also, injuries forced McNair to miss 12 games in his last three seasons with Tennessee, which takes us to Billy Volek, who shined during his absence.
After going undrafted in 2000, Volek signed with the Titans. Although he only attempted 72 passes in his first three NFL seasons, the former Fresno State Bulldog would get his chance to shine in 2004. That year, he made eight starts and completed 218 of 357 passes for 2,486 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Those numbers might not pop off of the stat sheet nowadays but NFL rules at that time didn't favor offenses as much as they do now, so that kind of production would be akin to flirting with the 4,000-yard mark these days.
Granted, Volek went 2-6 in those contests but he put on display his ability to sling the pigskin. As a matter of fact, he had one of the most productive two-week stretches any quarterback had had at that point in time.
Against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13, he logged 426 yards and followed that up with 492 yards and four touchdowns against the then-Oakland Raiders the following game. The Titans lost both outings and Volek returned to the sidelines next year.
Volek then spent five unremarkable seasons with the then-San Diego Chargers before hanging up the cleats in 2012. While his career path wasn't very different from those of many players, he was given a chance to shine and made the most of it, even if he wasn't able to win many football games.
No. 1 most underappreciated player in Titans history: Derrick Mason, WR
The Titans have no shortage of great running backs that have walked through their halls. Derrick Henry, Chris Johnson, Eddie George, and even DeMarco Murray also have shined under the spotlight. But how about wide receivers? You might have a bit of a hard time finding a true bonafide No. 1 in Tennessee lore.
This is partly due to the fact that the Titans have been historically a ground-and-pound kind of team, meaning that they have had coaches that emphasize ball control over lighting up the scoreboard. While this isn't inherently a bad strategy, it has prevented receivers to stand out in Tennessee. The exception is Derrick Mason, who is arguably the best receiver to ever suit up for the Titans.
Early in his NFL career, Mason was mostly relegated to special teams and backup duty. However, he got a break when Kevin Dyson tore his Achilles in 2000. That year, the former Michigan State Spartan hauled in 63 receptions for 895 yards with five touchdowns. But he was just getting started, as he went on to register eight 1,000-year seasons from 2001-2009.
While four of those seasons happened when he played for the Baltimore Ravens, his two Pro Bowl appearances took place in Tennessee.
All things considered, Mason must be one of the most underappreciated receivers not just in Titans' history but from the 2000s. Had he posted better numbers early in his NFL career and had bigger name recognition, he would likely have a shot at getting enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For the time being, he gets the top spot on this list.