Tennessee Titans

Titans reiterate team not for sale

Published Jun. 25, 2015 11:54 p.m. ET

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The Tennessee Titans used Thursday's press conference announcing a change in naming rights for the team's stadium to reiterate the team will not be sold any time soon.

Kenneth Adams IV, grandson of the late owner Bud Adams, said his family has no intention of relinquishing ownership of the franchise.

"We're committed here long term, and we plan on having the team in the family for a long time," Adams said, via John Glennon of the Tennessean. "There's nothing in the works."

The Titans have been consistent in saying the team will not be put up for sale, but changes within the ownership structure in recent months have given rise to speculation. Tommy Smith, Bud Adams' son-in-law, took over as team CEO in October 2013 after the elder Adams' death, but Smith stepped down this past March. Another family member, Amy Adams Strunk, recently became the family member designated to vote for the group at the NFL owners meetings.

The Titans say the decision to appoint former team executive Steve Underwood as interim CEO and have him stay on through the 2015 season should be a beneficial for the franchise.

"The move to bring Steve Underwood in long term, to get him to stay through the season, sort of solidifies us," Kenneth Adams IV said. "He's a face that people here know. He's a face that our employees are very comfortable with. I think that's gone a long way to solidifying things."

Adams added that with the drafting of quarterback Marcus Mariota and Thursday's announcement of a new 20-year agreement with Nissan for the naming rights to the team's stadium, the franchise is headed in a positive direction.

"I feel a lot of optimism," Adams said. "We signed some great free agents, solidified a couple pieces of the defense. The coaches and the general manager won't say it, but they're excited (about Mariota). I've seen it. I can read between the lines. They think they have a quarterback of the future."

(h/t The Tennessean)

Photo credit: Don McPeak/USA TODAY Sports