Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams has passed away at the age of 90, the organisation confirmed today.

Adams had owned the franchise since 1959 when they were the Houston Oilers and was a pivotal in the formation of the Amercian Football League, which would later join the NFL.

He moved his team to Tennessee in 1997 and in the period since, guided them to several playoff appearances, including to the AFC Championship game in 2002.

The team said in a statement on their website: "Tennessee Titans/Oilers founder and owner K.S. "Bud" Adams Jr. passed away peacefully from natural causes at his home this morning in Houston."

The Titans were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.