The Titans Just Reached Back Into Texas History With Anthony Hill Jr.

When the Tennessee Titans traded up to take Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. at No. 60 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, they landed more than a consensus five-star recruit and one of the best middle linebackers in college football. They kept alive the longest draft connection in franchise history.

Since Bud Adams took control of the Houston Oilers in 1960, the Titans/Oilers have selected 23 players from the University of Texas. No other school comes close. Penn State and Auburn sit at 16 apiece. The thread runs from the AFL days straight through some of the most memorable picks in team lore.

This wasn’t volume for volume’s sake. The franchise has spent real draft capital on Longhorns, including five first-round selections. The latest addition, Hill, continues a run that restarted in 2024 after a long quiet stretch.

Earl Campbell Set the Standard in 1978

The pipeline gained its signature weight in 1978. The Oilers packaged tight end Jimmie Giles, a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and two future selections to Tampa Bay for the No. 1 overall choice. They used it on Heisman Trophy running back Earl Campbell out of Texas.

Campbell knew exactly where he was headed. “I called (Oilers coach Bum Phillips) and he told me, ‘Congratulations, we’re drafting you and we would like to see what day we can get you a ticket to come down here,’” he recalled in a 2025 interview with The Tennessean.

“I called (Oilers coach Bum Phillips) and he told me, ‘Congratulations, we’re drafting you and we would like to see what day we can get you a ticket to come down here.’”— Earl Campbell, 2025 interview with The Tennessean

Campbell delivered immediately. He won AP Rookie of the Year in 1978 and NFL MVP in 1979. His punishing running style helped define an era and earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That single selection turned Texas into more than a school the Oilers liked. It became a destination.

Vince Young Brought Drama and Star Power in 2006

The franchise returned to Texas with another top-three pick in 2006, selecting quarterback Vince Young third overall. Owner Bud Adams’ strong preference for the Texas product was no secret before the draft. Former coach Jeff Fisher later admitted at a Bears press conference that Young sat behind Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler and USC’s Matt Leinart on his personal board.

The pick created one of the most scrutinized moments in franchise history because of the clear tension between Adams and Fisher. Young’s dual-threat ability and big personality made him a lightning rod, yet the selection fit the pattern: when the Titans/Oilers wanted premium talent from Texas, they found a way to get it.

The 17-Year Gap and the Recent Revival

After defensive back Michael Griffin came off the board in the first round in 2007, the Titans went 17 years without drafting another player from Texas. The drought ended in 2024 when defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat arrived in the second round. Tight end Gunnar Helm followed in the fourth round in 2025. Hill made it three Longhorns in three consecutive drafts when the Titans moved up in Round 2 this year.

Sweat was later traded in the 2026 offseason, but the selection still counts toward the franchise total. The recent cluster shows the connection is no longer dormant.

Why the Titans Keep Coming Back to Texas

The numbers tell part of the story. Twenty-three selections across more than six decades is not random. The Oilers and Titans have repeatedly identified players who fit the physical and competitive profile the franchise values. Campbell brought unmatched power. Griffin brought ball skills and toughness in the secondary. Sweat brought size and disruption on the interior line. Helm added receiving versatility at tight end. Hill brings athleticism, instincts, and the kind of middle-linebacker presence that can anchor a defense.

The decision to trade with the Chicago Bears to secure the 60th pick this year signaled real conviction. Hill walked into the building as a proven high-end college producer from a program that has supplied the Titans with impact players before. For a front office trying to build sustainable depth, that track record matters.

There’s also something deeper at work. Texas has long produced the exact blend of size, speed, and football character that translates to the NFL. When the Titans have bet big on Longhorns, they have often gotten back players who left fingerprints on the franchise. The current front office appears comfortable returning to that same source.

What Hill Represents in 2026

Anthony Hill Jr. is not just another name on the list. He is the latest link in a chain that started with a Hall of Famer and has survived ownership changes, coaching changes, and long stretches without a single selection. At 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, the Denton, Texas native brings the frame and athletic traits that have defined successful Titans linebackers across different schemes.

His arrival also carries a human thread. A five-star recruit who starred at one of college football’s blue-blood programs is now part of a Nashville locker room that has welcomed Longhorns before him. The journey from Texas high school fields to the Titans’ draft board feels almost inevitable once you trace the history.

Fans who lived through Campbell’s dominance or followed Young’s turbulent but electric career will recognize the feeling. The Titans are once again betting on talent that carries the burnt orange pedigree. Whether Hill becomes the next cornerstone or simply a solid contributor, the selection reinforces an identity the franchise has never fully abandoned.