No one will have the opportunity to wear No.9 and No.27 with Tennessee Titans anymore. The team announced on Wednesday that they are retiring these two numbers in honor of two of their legends quarterback Steve McNair and running back Eddie George.
Titans will officially retire McNair’s No. 9 and George’s No. 27 jerseys on September 15th, during 2019 home opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
McNair and George will join Jim Norton (No.43), Elvin Bethea (No.65), Earl Campbell (No.34), Mike Munchak (No.63) Bruce Matthews (No.74) and Warren Moon (No.1), as players who had their jerseys retired by the franchise.
“Steve and Eddie will be forever linked as two of the driving forces for our team in the late 90s and early 2000s,” – said Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk in a statement. “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.”
It is fitting that McNair and George’s jerseys get retired together as the duo contributed to one of most successful periods ( between 1996 and 2003) in the franchise’s history. During the eight years the two played together, Titans managed to make four postseason appearances, winning two division titles, become AFC Champions and make a Super Bowl XXXIV appearance.
