Cam Ward jersey number: Hall of Famer Warren Moon passes on his retired No. 1 to top draft pick

David Suggs

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Cam Ward jersey number: Hall of Famer Warren Moon passes on his retired No. 1 to top draft pick image

Cam Ward officially went No. 1 overall to the Titans, but there was still the question of what number he would wear with his new team.

The Miami product surged to the top of draft boards while donning the No. 1 kit during his time in burnt orange. He's hoping to do the same in the NFL, albeit in different colors.

Ward was the presumptive No. 1 pick in this year's draft, and he officially joined the Titans' QB room, a much-needed addition after years of uncertainty under center.

Ward's arrival will breathe life into a weary fan base. And yet, there's confusion over whether the dual-threat talent will be permitted to rock his preferred threads at the next level.

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Here's what you need to know.

What jersey number will Cam Ward wear?

Ward sported the No. 1 jersey for much of his collegiate career, rocking the digit during his time at Washington State and Miami. He expressed interest in attempting to continue the trend in the professional ranks, although that dynamic depended on a number of factors, namely whether the integer is available for use.

The biggest issue with Ward's quest to wear No. 1 was that the Titans granted that number, and the man who sported it — Warren Moon — the grandest of honors in 2006, retiring the digit from use to pay homage to Moon's Hall of Fame exploits.

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During Ward's introductory press conference, Moon made the decision to unretire his No. 1 and pass it on to Ward.

If Ward wasn't able to get Moon's No. 1, he also hinted he was open to donning another unit as needed. Before reaching new heights at the FBS level, Ward wore the No. 7 kit as a member of Incarnate Word — the same jersey he wore during his high school days.

However, that is no longer an issue, as Ward will look to honor Moon with the No. 1.

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What jersey number did Warren Moon wear?

Moon never actually played in Tennessee, instead spending 10 seasons with the organization's predecessor, the Houston Oilers.

His entire spell in H-Town was spent in the No. 1 jersey. Moon established himself as one of the NFL's greatest talents across his 141-game tenure with the Oilers, collecting six Pro Bowl selections while finishing top six in MVP voting on three occasions.

Between his collegiate, CFL, and NFL careers, Moon spent nearly 30 seasons on the gridiron. All of them saw Moon outfitted in that iconic No. 1 strip.

NumberYearsTeam(s)
11975-1977Washington
11978-1983Edmonton Eskimos (CFL)
11984-1993Houston Oilers
11994-1996Minnesota Vikings
11997-1998Seattle Seahawks
11999-2000Kansas City Chiefs

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Is No. 1 retired by the Titans?

The No. 1 jersey was retired by the Titans, with Moon's Hall of Fame induction in 2006 serving as the trigger for his longtime franchise to honor his performances in the kit.

While the numeral had stayed in limestone for nearly 20 years, Moon told Paul Kuharsky earlier in the year he'd consider relinquishing the digit if Ward was selected by Tennessee, although it took him a while to determine whether that's what he wanted.

“I’m thinking about it,” Moon said.

Now that Moon surrendered ownership of the figure, he isn't the first Hall of Famer to perform such a task. Last season, Ray Flaherty's family permitted the Giants to unretire his iconic No. 1 for incoming wideout Malik Nabers. The New York pass-catcher proceeded to establish himself as one of the NFL's best wideouts, collecting 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven scores.

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David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.