To this day, he's still haunted by the playoff loss to the Ravens in 2000. He's also bothered by knowing his buddy can say he knocked him out cold during a game in 1997.

On Saturday night, the Titans and Ravens will meet again the AFC Divisional playoffs.

"He was my fiercest rival, and he caused me a lot of fits, a lot of heartache," George said of Lewis. "One of the toughest losses that I ever had in my career was against Baltimore in 2000. But there's a level of respect that goes beyond the field. I respect him as a man and what he represents."

At George's September event, titled "Cigars, Cocktails, and Conversation," the former NFL stars shared stories about their NFL careers during a week when George's No. 27 jersey will be retired on Sunday at Nissan Stadium. On the same day, the Titans will also honor McNair, the late Titans quarterback who later became teammates with Lewis in Baltimore. McNair's No.9 jersey will also be retired.

George and Lewis agreed the bond they developed during their playing careers had already grown strong before McNair joined the Ravens in 2006. When McNair was tragically killed in 2009, they grew closer.

"Ali and Frazier, their relationship, they realized, yeah, we were great warriors," Lewis said. "But it was another thing to be a brother that somebody could lean on when times got hard, because things got hard when Mac9 passed, and we had to come together. This little rivalry we had, it's cute. But (Steve dying), that was real, and we needed one another, and Momma McNair needed us."

Lewis spoke at Steve McNair's funeral.

Since his death, Lewis said a week hasn't gone by when he hasn't called McNair's mother.

When discussing McNair while in Nashville in September, there was a point when it looked like Lewis was beginning to tear up.

"My payback, Rest In Peace Steve, is momma McNair needs a call," Lewis said. "If Steve knew we were this close, and he does because he's looking down on us, he would be happy. But it's his legacy I want to honor, by being there for his mom and his family. Not having him here is different. The day I got that call, life forever changed."

George and Lewis still have each other.

Lewis recently spoke at an event for George at Ohio State, and George recently went out of his way to spend time with Lewis at one of his functions as well. Lewis flew cross-country to Nashville from Los Angeles, where he'd been training for Dancing with the Stars, for George's event. A few months earlier, Lewis had promised to be there for George.

The two talk regularly, and build each other up after so many years trying to beat each other down.

Lewis said he thinks they'll grow old together, but then he stops to remember McNair's untimely death.

"We all have to go, but to lose Steve that early, it still bothers me," Lewis said. "But me and Eddie, we're here for one another. I don't think anyone knows how close we really are, and we have that bond. It's a brotherhood."

Like Lewis, George only wishes McNair could enjoy life with them.