Warren Moon gives Cam Ward his blessing to wear retired no. 1 jersey, last worn in 2006

Time of India

26-04-2025

A Hall of Famer Hands Over His Number
At Cam Ward's first press conference as a Tennessee Titan, there was a surprise no one expected. Before Ward spoke to the media,
Hall of Fame quarterback
Warren Moon stepped out from a side room holding a No.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
1 Titans jersey. Moon wore that number for the Houston Oilers, the team that later became the Titans, and the number had been retired in his honor since 2006.
Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi introduced Moon, who said he came because of the respect he has for Ward. 'I just came here because I got a lot of respect for this young man right here,' Moon said. 'I wore the No. 1 for a lot of different reasons and for a long time starting back in 1976.
Now I'm part of the Titans family and my Oiler jersey will probably never be worn again. But the
Tennessee Titans
jersey is going to be worn by Cam to kind of revitalize it.'
Why No. 1 Matters to Ward
Ward wore No. 1 at Washington State and Miami. It became his identity as he rose from a zero-star recruit at Incarnate Word to one of the top quarterbacks in college football. Last season, he threw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns at Miami, breaking school records and winning the Davey O'Brien Award for best collegiate quarterback.
He was also a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Ward is originally from West Columbia, Texas, just an hour outside of Houston, but he never saw Moon play. He only became familiar with Moon during the NFL draft process earlier this year.
'I didn't know much about him,' Ward said. 'Before I reached out to him, I watched his film to make sure he's legit and yeah, he was legit! I'm trying to get up to his level one day. He's a Hall of Famer and for me to be in that same number is an honor."
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
How the Decision Happened
Ward called Moon about a month ago and asked for permission to wear the No. 1 jersey. It wasn't the first time a Titans player had asked, but Moon said this time felt different.
'You start thinking about your legacy and the things that you established when you were playing,' Moon said. 'You want to make sure those things continue. He has a chance to create a great legacy for that number with this organization, where I did mine with the Houston organization, even though we're all part of the same thing."
Moon also noted how Ward had played at Washington State, the rival of Moon's alma mater, the University of Washington and how both men were from the Houston area. Those small links made the connection feel more meaningful.
Starting Fresh with a Legendary Jersey
Moon played 17 seasons in the NFL, including 10 with the Oilers. He was a six-time Pro Bowler, won an Offensive Player of the Year award, and retired with 49,325 passing yards and 233 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006, the same year the Titans retired his No.
1 jersey.
Now that number belongs to Cam Ward, who will begin his NFL career with Moon's support behind him. Ward was visibly surprised at the press conference and hadn't known Moon would be there. The moment made it clear how serious the opportunity is and how rare. Very few retired numbers are ever brought back. Moon's decision shows trust in Ward, even though he hasn't played a single NFL snap yet.
Before leaving, Moon offered a message to the young quarterback: 'Just to come here and be humble.
You got to be able to give a little bit of yourself to each position on the football team. Keep getting better every day and improve the confidence teammates will have in him so every time he goes out on the field they say, 'We have a chance to win with this guy.''