The numbers of four football players killed in World War II were retired. The numbers of William E. Nowling, fullback and 1943 senior class president (lettered in 1940, 1941, and 1942); Rudolph (Rudy) Klarer, Tennessee’s “Flying Dutchman” of the gridiron (lettered in 1941 and 1942); Willis N. Tucker, who entered the army in 1941 as the first UT athlete drafted under selective service (lettered in 1940); and Clyde “Ig” Fuson, one of two brothers to play for UT (lettered in 1942) were retired. The numbers retired were 32, 49, 61, and 62, respectively. District 2 of the Department of Tennessee Veterans of Foreign Wars presented plaques to UT commemorating the lives and Vol careers of each of these players.
Peyton Manning’s football jersey (but not his number) was retired in 1998 at the Orange and White Game, the halftime of which was dedicated to a celebration of his time at UT. In 2005 the numbers of Peyton Manning (16), Doug Atkins (91), and Reggie White (92) were retired. Johnny Majors’ jersey (45) was retired in 2012.