They're two of the most iconic numbers in Nashville sports history, and the Titans are acting accordingly.

Tennessee is retiring former quarterback Steve McNair's No. 9 and former running back Eddie George's No. 27. The team held a ceremony at Saint Thomas Sports Park after minicamp on Wednesday, which George attended.

Their numbers will officially be retired during the Titans' home opener against the Colts on Sept. 15.

The duo become the seventh and eighth players to have their numbers retired in the history of the Titans/Oilers franchise, and the first who played primarily for the Titans. The other six are Jim Norton (No. 43), Elvin Bethea (No. 65), Earl Campbell (No. 34), Mike Munchak (No. 63), Bruce Matthews (No. 74) and Warren Moon (No. 1).

“Steve and Eddie will be forever linked as two of the driving forces for our team in the late '90s and early 2000s,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said. “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.”

Their numbers are the 152nd and 153rd to be retired in NFL history, Titans Radio voice Mike Keith said during the ceremony. And no No. 9 or 27 had been retired in league history.

"I couldn't imagine having a day like this or my jersey retired by itself. It has to be with Steve," George said.

The Titans — then the Houston Oilers — drafted McNair out of Alcorn State with the third overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. He was named the league's co-MVP (with Peyton Manning) in 2003, earned three Pro Bowl nods (2000, 2003, 2005), and in 1999, led the Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance. He finished his career with 31,304 yards passing and 174 touchdowns, and was credited with 20 game-winning drives during the regular season and postseason in his 11-year career with the franchise.

He accumulated the most wins of any quarterback in franchise history.

McNair spent the last two seasons of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens. He was shot to death by his mistress, Sahel Kazemi, on July 4, 2009, in a murder-suicide, according to police.

George, a Heisman Trophy winner out of Ohio State, was drafted 14th overall by the franchise in 1996. He played with the Titans until 2003, racking up four Pro Bowl honors (1997-2000) in the process. He was the 1996 Offensive Rookie of the Year, and ran for 10,441 yards and 68 touchdowns in his career.

George's playing days came to an end in 2004 after he spent the final season of his career with the Cowboys, but he never had a formal retirement. He said this "put a period" on things.

“I never had the proper way to say goodbye," George said. "Now it’s complete. This is a huge honor.”

George and McNair are members of the Titans/Oilers Ring of Honor, which Strunk said will be getting "a new look" with an upcoming renovation.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel was drafted a year after George entered the NFL, but the two overlapped at Ohio State.

"Eddie taught me that you could be physical and tough and nasty and still smile," said Vrabel, who spent the first four years of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. "(And I was) lucky enough to play against Steve McNair. ... He was big, physical, fast, could throw the ball, had a strong arm, just naturally gifted. And we had some great matchups against the Titans and those two guys were a huge part of their success here."

Reach Erik Bacharach at ebacharach@tennessean.com and on Twitter @ErikBacharach.