Retired NFL Jersey Numbers: AFC South

Football Friday at The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

Since it’s the off-season I thought I’d start a fun project involving NFL history. So I’m going to go division by division and post galleries of football cards (when available) featuring all NFL players who have had their jersey numbers retired by their teams. This week it’s the four squads of the AFC South — the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans.

Previous galleries: AFC EastNFC EastAFC North, NFC North

Houston Texans (0)

The Texans have yet to retire a number in their decade-plus of existence. If I had to bust out my crystal ball, wide receiver Andre Johnson (#80) is a potential future candidate. He holds a number of team records (some by a sizable margin) and is poised in 2013 to become one of the NFL’s top 20 receivers ever for career receiving yards.

Indianapolis Colts (7)

To date, no Colts who played in Indianapolis have had their jersey number retired. In fact the most recent Colt on this list is Johnny Unitas, who was traded away after the 1972 season.

#19 — Johnny Unitas

Johnny Unitas 1958 Topps football card

#22 — Buddy Young

Buddy Young 1956 Topps football card

#24 — Lenny Moore

Lenny Moore 1956 Topps football card

#70 — Art Donovan

Art Donovan 1959 Topps football card

#77 — Jim Parker

Jim Parker 1965 Philadelphia football card

#82 — Raymond Berry

Raymond Berry 1961 Topps football card

#89 — Gino Marchetti

Gino Marchetti 1959 Topps football card

Jacksonville Jaguars (0)

Although not officially retired, the number 71 worn by offensive tackle Tony Boselli, the Jaguars’ first-ever draft pick, has not been worn since his retirement in 2002. According to team officials the number has been “taken out of service.”

Tennessee Titans (6)

This list is made up entirely of players who got their start as a member of the Houston Oilers. Bruce Matthews did play in Tennessee, but spent the vast majority of his amazing career in Houston.

#1 — Warren Moon

Warren Moon 1989 Pro Set football card

#34 — Earl Campbell

Earl Campbell 1979 Topps football card

#43 — Jim Norton

Jim Norton 1968 Topps football card

#63 — Mike Munchak

Mike Munchak 1989 Pro Set football card

#65 — Elvin Bethea

Elvin Bethea 1970 Topps football card

#74 — Bruce Matthews

Bruce Matthews 1990 Fleer football card