With Bud Adams' death, what lies ahead for Titans?

• Titans%27 lease with Nashville runs through 2028
• Adams%27 grandson could assume major role going forward

NASHVILLE — The Nashville of 2013 wouldn't be what it is without Kenneth S. Adams Jr.

It was his decision to move his NFL franchise to this market. Whether you are a Titans fan or not, you must acknowledge the impact of his decision.

I'll leave it to others to debate Bud Adams' legacy. It's time to focus on what lies ahead for the Tennessee Titans franchise after his death.

So what now? Adams' dying gift to Nashville is a team that will remain in the city for the foreseeable future. From all accounts, Adams established a plan to pass ownership of the Titans to members of his family while contractual commitments keep the team at LP Field through the duration of the original lease, which runs through the 2028 season.

Adams had the foresight — and wealth — to establish a succession plan that keeps the Titans in his family. Adams took that action after seeing other franchises sold due to the burden of estate taxes.

With that in mind, he set aside funds that would cover estate taxes on the franchise, which was valued at approximately $1.01 billion by Forbes magazine last year. Adams originally paid $25,000 for the franchise's rights when he and former Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt founded the American Football League in 1959.

While details are sketchy because Adams preferred to keep personal business matters private, it is believed that the families of his three children — daughters Susie Smith and Amy Strunk and his late son Kenneth Adams III — will share ownership of the franchise equally.

Adams' grandson looms as key figure

Moving forward, the central figure in all this is Adams' grandson and namesake, Kenneth S. Adams IV. He has been working for the Titans since graduating from the University of the South in 2006. At one point, Kenneth Adams worked as an administrative assistant to Steve Underwood, who served as Nashville-based senior executive vice president and general counsel in 2006-10.

Kenneth Adams is the only member of the Adams family that has had a hands-on working relationship with the Titans. Tommy Smith, Bud Adams' son-in-law, was offered an opportunity to move to Nashville and help run the franchise when the then-Oilers landed on Tennessee turf in 1997 but declined.

Kenneth Adams has handled various assignments with the Titans over the last seven-plus years. More recently, he has worked in the front office. On some Sundays, he was visible on the sideline at LP Field prior to games, often visiting with his grandfather. Most believe he has been groomed to run the team.

So we know about the status of the Titans in the near term. But what about further down the line? That's where the picture isn't quite so clear.

Passing a family business to a younger generation can create rifts if all the heirs are not committed to the same goal or if other business interests force compromise. An example: When Art Rooney left the Pittsburgh Steelers to his sons. Dan Rooney's brothers had to sell because of their involvement in gambling operations at horse racing tracks. NFL rules do not permit those involved in gaming operations to own teams. Dan Rooney bought out the shares of his brothers and enlisted outside investors to the new ownership group.

In time, something similar might happen with the Titans. But even if part or all of the franchise eventually moves outside the Adams family, that doesn't mean the team would relocate. Much would depend on the renegotiation of the current lease or the signing of a new agreement between the Titans and Nashville.

As for Bud Adams' wishes, he made it clear that he wanted the team to remain in Nashville because of the commitment he and the city's leadership made in 1996.

Yes, Adams reaped great financial reward by moving his team from Houston. But it was the ultimate win-win. While Adams got the new stadium and the fresh start he wanted, Nashville gained membership into the elite fraternity of 31 cities that house NFL teams. It is the gift that keeps on giving.

Bud Adams may have lived and died in Houston, but Nashville held a special place in his heart.

Rest in peace, Bud.

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Climer also writes for The (Nashville) Tennessean