Titans Urged To Retire Chris Johnson's Number After Diagnosis

George Walker IV / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Titans Urged To Retire Chris Johnson's Number After Diagnosis

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Jun 30, 2026 12:49 PM ET

The Tennessee Titans have retired eight uniform numbers across their long and storied history. But amid the ALS diagnose of team legend Chris Johnson, there are calls for the team to retire a ninth.

Following Johnson's ALS diagnosis on Monday, Titans fans started taking to social media to publicly urge the team to retire the No. 28 jersey that he wore during his six years with the team.

The last time the Titans retired numbers was in 2019 when they retired Eddie George's No. 27 and the late Steve McNair's No. 9 jersey on the same day. Other numbers that have been retired include 1 (Warren Moon), 34 (Earl Campbell), 43 (Jim Norton), 63 (Mike Munchak), 65 (Elvin Bethea) and 74 (Bruce Matthews.

FULL INTERVIEW: Former NFL running back Chris Johnson reveals his ALS diagnosis at 39. pic.twitter.com/5Pb8YAQ5x0
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 29, 2026

"Retire 28"

Titans fans have been passionately arguing for the team to make Chris Johnson's the next to be retired or at least entered into the Titans' Ring of Honor.

"Titans need to retire 28," one user on X declared on Monday.

"The Titans should look to retire #28. Do it week 1. Hang his name in the rafters," wrote another.

"Titans need to add CJ2K to the Ring of Honor and retire #28," a third wrote.

"Sharing this again, in honor of one of the best offensive seasons in NFL history. @Titans , retire number 28. #Titans fans, let's celebrate one of the best to ever wear our uniform. And pray for healing, comfort, and peace."

"Week 1 vs his other former team, give him the entire experience of being permanently etched into the teams history."

"They needed to retire 28 WELLLLL before this news..."

It is worth noting that the Titans open up Week 1 of the 2026 season against the New York Jets - another team that Johnson played for during his NFL career. That would be a pretty appropriate time and place to pay homage to the legend.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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