The Tennesee Titans will retire Eddie George's No. 9 and the late Steve McNair's No. 27 during Sunday's Week 2 game against the Indianapolis Colts, the team announced. George's wife, Tag, will perform the National Anthem before the game while former teammates will act as the team's honorary 12th man.
Two all-time greats for the franchise, they will be the seventh and eighth inductees into the organization's retired-number class — that includes Warren Moon (No. 1), Earl Campbell (No. 34), Jim Norton (No. 43), Mike Munchak (No. 63), Elvin Bethea (No. 65), and Jake Mathews (No. 74).
Said owner Amy Adams Strunk, via the Titans official website:
“Steve and Eddie will be forever linked as two of the driving forces for our team in the late 90’s and early 2000’s,” Tennessee owner Amy Adams Strunk said, per the team website. “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's fitting to see George and McNair earn get their numbers retired on the same day. During their time together (1996-2003), the Titans posted an 80-48 record, winning two division titles, making four playoff appearances, and twice appearing in the AFC Championship game. In Super Bowl XXXIV, George, McNair, and Tennessee famously came up one yard short of taking tying the game on the final snap, giving the St. Louis Rams a 23-16 victory.
George is the Titans' all-time leader in rushing yards (10,009) and total touchdowns leader (74), and holds 28 franchise records altogether. McNair won the 2003 NFL MVP with the Titans, and is second in terms of career passing yards (27,141) and third in touchdowns (156) with the team.
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