To see him in the locker room getting taped up and having to take naps because he was tired and beat up and have to get up the next day and go out and fight, that was our culture. "So it goes beyond just the numbers, it goes beyond just what you see on the stat sheet. He had to overcome a lot of stigmas and a lot of stereotypes to prove himself in this league," George said. "We saw all he had to go through to get to that point as an African-American quarterback. The Titans cheered McNair for 10 minutes when then-coach Jeff Fisher announced McNair had been voted MVP. George recalled all that McNair went through with injuries, thoughts of retiring to dramatic comebacks such as coming off the bench for a divisional win in Pittsburgh in 2000. Asked for a favourite game moment for McNair, George said when the quarterback was named MVP. George, who won the Heisman Trophy while at Ohio State, called a wild-card playoff victory over Baltimore in January 2004 as his favourite personal memory. McNair earned three of his four Pro Bowls with the Titans and shared The Associated Press' NFL MVP with Peyton Manning in 2003 as the first black quarterback to win that award. McNair remains one of only three quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 30,000 yards and run for 3,500 yards with Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young. 9 will forever be held in the highest regard in the Titans nation." It is a tangible reminder for me and the boys to know that No. "Retiring his jersey is a really big deal for us. "Steve would be truly honoured to know that he was held in such high esteem by you," Mechelle McNair wrote. Team announcer Mike Keith read a statement she sent. Mechelle McNair, his widow, was not able to attend Wednesday's news conference. 625 winning percentage with only one losing season at 7-9 in 2001 and the 2000 Super Bowl, two AFC championship games, four playoff appearances and two division titles. McNair and George together went 80-48 for a. McNair, killed July 4, 2009, leads the franchise with 76 wins as a starter. 3 overall, played 11 of 13 seasons here and remains the franchise's second all-time leading passer (27,141 yards) behind only Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon (33,685). McNair, drafted a year before in 1995 at No. George, who played eight seasons with this team and made four Pro Bowls, remains both the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 10,009 yards and all-time scrimmage yards leader with 12,153. It's totally appropriate to have us go in together." "I couldn't imagine having a day like this where my jersey (is) retired by myself," George said. George called having his number retired a "huge honour" considering that usually requires being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. McNair and George will join six other former Titans and Oilers whose numbers have been retired including Warren Moon, Earl Campbell, Mike Munchak, Bruce Matthews and Elvin Bethea - all members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 9 or 27, giving the league 153 numbers that have been retired. The Titans say this will be the first time an NFL team has retired either a No. "This is a big moment for me personally because I love these guys, and I know my dad loved these guys and he will be so happy and proud that we were honouring them today," Strunk said of her late father, Bud Adams, who founded the franchise in 1960. 15 at their home opener against the Indianapolis Colts. 9 of the late Steve McNair again, players who helped the franchise through its difficult relocation from Houston to Tennessee to its lone Super Bowl berth.Ĭontrolling owner Amy Adams Strunk announced Wednesday that the franchise will retire both numbers Sept. NASHVILLE - Nobody with the Titans will ever wear Eddie George's No.
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