Tennessee Titans owner and AFL founder Bud Adams has reportedly passed away on Monday, leaving a legacy as one of the driving force behind the success of the NFL. He was 90.

The Titans confirmed that their owner has passed away peacefully from natural causes. As the son of oil executive, Adams established his own energy company and went on to form the Houston Oilers.

After a disagreement with city officials in his attempt to build a new stadium, Adams took the Oilers from Houston to Tennessee and renamed it as the Titans. In 2000, Adams finally saw his team reach Super Bowl after a three-decade pursuit.

Adams is one of the founding owners of the American Football League and eventually led the campaign for the merger of the NFL.

"I consider Bud one of the founders of the game of professional football because of his role in helping to create the American Football League," Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement according to ESPN.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also released a statement, expressing condolence to Adams' family and recognizing as well the owner's contribution in American football.

"As a founding owner of the American Football League that began play in 1960, Bud saw the potential of pro football and brought the game to new cities and new heights of popularity, first in Houston and then in Nashville," Goodell said in a statement.