The No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft will indeed be No. 1 for the Tennessee Titans.
While Cam Ward's top selection didn't come as a surprise on Thursday night, his introductory press conference with the club on Friday began with one when Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon came out to hand the Miami product his No. 1 jersey -- a number retired by the franchise following Moon's 10-year career with the Houston Oilers.
"I just came here because I have a lot of respect for this young man right here," Moon said. "A lot of our journey's similar as far as all the things that he was told throughout the journey about not being good enough. Nobody wanted to give him that great opportunity but he just kept fighting, he kept working, kept showing leadership, perseverance, and here he is today, the No. 1 overall pick in the National Football League draft. So, that's the reason why I wanted to be here, just to let him know how proud I am of him."
Moon continued: "I wore the No. 1 for a lot of different reasons, and I wore it for a long time starting back in 1976 when I was in college. I think I wore it very honorably for the Houston Oilers organization to the point to where I created a Hall of Fame career for myself. Now I'm part of the Tennessee Titans family and my Houston Oiler jersey will probably never be worn again -- I hope it won't -- but the Tennessee Titans jersey is going to be worn by Cam, and Cam will be starting a new freshness in this organization to kind of revitalize it and get it to where it was a number of years ago as one of the more successful organizations in the league."
Ward revealed that he sought permission from Moon about a month ago but didn't know the digit would be bestowed upon him on like it was on Friday. Just as his journey from a zero-star recruit in high school to becoming the No. 1 overall draft pick in the NFL, Ward was wrapped in humility upon being introduced in Nashville with honor.
"I'm excited that Mr. Moon was able to bless me with giving me this number but, to me, the number will never mean anything," Ward told reporters. "It's all about the plays you make on the field. So, I'm ready for this opportunity with my teammates."
Added Ward: "The person doesn't make the number. The player makes the number."
Speaking with NFL Network's Sara Walsh following the presser, Ward said he isn't feeling any added pressure wearing Moon's old number.
"I don't feel no weight on my shoulders," Ward said. "I'm still a zero-star recruit. You know, I just happen to be a high draft pick and so I always remember what they said about me; it'll never leave the back of my mind -- it's there every day. I'd just like to get to work with my teammates."
Forgoing all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds a No.1 overall draft pick, Ward on Friday looked for every opportunity to express the excitement he feels when it comes to continuing his journey into the pros.
Ward set an NCAA record with 158 career passing touchdowns along a five-year collegiate career that started at the bottom and finished as the No. 1 overall draft pick. In order to reach newer heights at the NFL level, the 22-year-old is champing at the bit to get on the field with his new Titans teammates, perhaps looking to one day surpass the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns while donning the legend's No. 1.
"I just think having time with my receivers is gonna be the biggest thing," he told Walsh of the NFL learning curve. "I think timing the ball placement is, you know, what beats the perfect coverage. And so, you know, I just think me and the receivers and the whole offense, you know, as a staff, the O-line as well, we all just gotta do our job, you know, just by got to be good communicators in the long run."
