Today, the Tennessee Titans will retire quarterback Steve McNair’s No. 9 jersey and running back Eddie George’s No. 27 jersey during a ceremony at the Sept. 15 home opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
“Steve and Eddie will be forever linked as two of the driving forces for our team in the late ’90s and early 2000s,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said. “They were the heart and soul of the team and each made the other a better player and ultimately led to a great deal of team success. Their statistics will forever live in our record books, but their play and sacrifice is what our fans will always remember. For that and all that they have done for our team, the number 9 and 27 will be retired with the all-time franchise greats.”
McNair and George join six other former Titans and Oilers to have their jersey numbers retired: safety/punter Jim Norton (43), defensive end Elvin Bethea (65), running back Earl Campbell (34), guard Mike Munchak (63), offensive lineman Bruce Matthews (74) and quarterback Warren Moon (1). Moon, whose number was retired on Oct. 1, 2006, was the most recent such honoree.
McNair, a native of Mount Olive, Miss., was selected by the then-Houston Oilers with the third overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. McNair shared the 2003 NFL MVP honors with Peyton Manning. Prior to his NFL career, McNair attended Alcorn State University. He passed away on July 4, 2009.
George, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., attended Ohio State and won the 1995 Heisman Trophy before entering the NFL. George was selected 14th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft and spent the first eight seasons of his nine-year NFL career with the Titans. George’s accolades included four Pro Bowl selections (1997–2000), AP All-Pro honors in 2000 and the AP Rookie of the Year Award in 1996.