The beloved Houston Oilers coach was kind, inspiring, and effective—but his brand of leadership is falling out of favor.

Houston sports fans embrace their teams, but it could be argued that no group of players had a more passionate love affair with the city than the Luv Ya Blue Houston Oilers of the late 1970s. A ...

Forgive Houston sports fans if they get a ... Kansas football team — which is why Adams gave the Oilers their trademark shade of blue (Yes, the Jayhawks used to wear a lighter blue ...

Phillips was fired in 1980 by Oilers owner Bud Adams. By then, Phillips was a treasured part of Houston culture, and this act made Adams one of the most hated men in the city. Phillips would go onto ...

The Houston Oilers lost the AFC Championship in Pittsburgh on Jan. 6, 1980, the second straight year in which the Oilers -- led by head coach Bum Phillips-- fell one game short of the franchise's ...

He took a helicopter from the Houston airport to the Oilers' facility, where he signed his first contract and met Phillips.

He took a helicopter from the Houston airport to the Oilers' facility, where he signed his first contract and met Phillips. He was presented that day with keys to a brand-new blue Lincoln ...