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'{{pp-move-indef}} {{short description|American football quarterback}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography |name=Steve McNair |image=Steve McNair 2007-08-10.jpg |image_size=250 |alt= |caption=McNair with the Baltimore Ravens in 2007 |number=9 |position=[[Quarterback]] |height_ft=6 |height_in=2 |weight_lbs=230 |birth_date={{Birth date|1973|2|14|mf=y}} |birth_place=[[Mount Olive, Mississippi]] |death_date={{death date and age|mf=yes|2009|7|4|1973|2|14}} |death_place=[[Nashville, Tennessee]] |high_school=[[Mount Olive High School (Mississippi)|Mount Olive (MS)]] |college=[[Alcorn State Braves football|Alcorn State]] |draftyear=1995 |draftround=1 |draftpick=3 |pastteams= * [[Tennessee Titans|Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans]] ([[1995 NFL season|1995]]–[[2005 NFL season|2005]]) * [[Baltimore Ravens]] ([[2006 NFL season|2006]]–[[2007 NFL season|2007]]) |highlights= * [[AFC Champion]] ([[1999]]) * 3× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2001 Pro Bowl|2000]], [[2004 Pro Bowl|2003]], [[2006 Pro Bowl|2005]]) * Second-team [[All-Pro]] (2003) * [[NFL Most Valuable Player]] (2003) * [[List of NFL season passer rating leaders|NFL passer rating leader]] (2003) * [[Walter Payton Award]] (1994) * [[Tennessee Titans#Titans/Oilers Hall of Fame|Titans/Oilers Ring of Honor]] |statlabel1=[[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]] |statvalue1=174–119 |statlabel2=Passing yards |statvalue2=31,304 |statlabel3=[[Passer rating]] |statvalue3=82.8 |statlabel4=Rushing yards |statvalue4=3,590 |statlabel5=Rushing touchdowns |statvalue5=37 |nfl=MCN033803 }} '''Stephen LaTreal McNair''' (February 14, 1973 – July 4, 2009),<ref name="News5">[http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=10643962 Steve McNair Found Dead] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706051039/http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=10643962 |date=July 6, 2009 }}. ''[[WTVF]]'', July 4, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2009.</ref> nicknamed '''Air McNair''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-07-04/remembering-air-mcnair |title=Remembering "Air McNair" – NCAA Football |publisher=Sporting News |date= |accessdate=November 20, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-500151_162-5133395.html | work=CBS News | title=Remembering Air McNair}}</ref> was an [[American football]] [[quarterback]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He spent most of his career with the [[Tennessee Titans|Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans]] and also played for the [[Baltimore Ravens]].<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?playerId=733 Steve McNair Stats, News, Photos]. ESPN.com. Retrieved July 8, 2009.</ref> McNair played [[college football]] at [[Alcorn State University|Alcorn State]] in [[Lorman, Mississippi]], where he won the 1994 [[Walter Payton Award]] as the top player in [[NCAA Division I-AA]]. He was [[1995 NFL Draft|drafted]] third overall by the NFL's Houston Oilers in 1995, becoming the team's regular starting quarterback in 1997, their first season in Tennessee (though he started six games over the prior two seasons in Houston), and remained the starting quarterback for the Titans through 2005. After the 2005 season, McNair was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, with whom he played for two seasons before retiring after thirteen NFL seasons.<ref name="fox 07.06.09">[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,530180,00.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a16:g2:r1:c0.190072:b26221114:z0 Shooting Unveils Very Different Sides of Ex-NFL Quarterback Steve McNair] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026074955/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,530180,00.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a16:g2:r1:c0.190072:b26221114:z0 |date=October 26, 2012 }}. ''[[Fox News]]'', July 6, 2009. Retrieved July 6, 2009.</ref> McNair led the Titans to the playoffs four times, and the Ravens once, and played in [[Super Bowl XXXIV]] with the Titans. McNair was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] three times, and was an [[All-Pro]] and [[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|Co-MVP]] in 2003, all as a Titan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81124656&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true|title=McNair helped bring stability and success to vagabond franchise|work=NFL.com|accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> On July 4, 2009, McNair was fatally shot by his mistress, Sahel Kazemi, in a [[murder–suicide]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=5347315|title=Sahel Kazemi: A study in the woman police say killed McNair a year ago|publisher=ESPN|date=July 4, 2010|accessdate=December 22, 2013}}</ref> ==Early life== McNair was born in a small tin-roofed house in [[Mount Olive, Mississippi]] on February 14, 1973. He had four brothers, [[Fred McNair (gridiron football)|Fred]], Jason, Michael, and Tim. He attended [[Mount Olive High School (Mississippi)|Mount Olive High School]] as a freshman in the fall of 1987, where he played [[American football|football]], [[baseball]], and [[basketball]] in addition to running track. As a junior, McNair led the Mount Olive Pirates to the state championship. McNair also played free safety in high school, and in 1990 alone, he intercepted fifteen passes, raising his career total to 30, which tied the mark established by [[Terrell Buckley]] at [[Old Pascagoula High School|Pascagoula High School]].<ref name="officialstevemcnair.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialstevemcnair.com/biography.php |title=The Steve McNair Foundation |publisher=Officialstevemcnair.com |date=February 14, 1973 |accessdate=November 20, 2010}}</ref> An All-State selection, McNair was named an All-American by [[Super Prep]] magazine.<ref name="officialstevemcnair.com"/> The [[Seattle Mariners]] drafted him in the 35th round of the [[1991 Major League Baseball draft|1991 MLB amateur draft]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=name&name=mcnair | title=MLB Amateur Draft Picks with the Name Matching: mcnair }}</ref> ==College career== McNair was initially offered a full scholarship to the [[University of Florida]] to play running back, but, wanting to play quarterback, McNair chose [[Alcorn State University]], a [[Historically black colleges and universities|Historically Black University]] which competes in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]'s Division I-AA (now known as the [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|Football Championship Subdivision]]) [[Southwestern Athletic Conference]] (SWAC). In 1992, McNair threw for 3,541 yards and 29 touchdowns, and ran in for 10 more scores. The Braves fashioned a record of 7–4, including a last-second victory in their rematch with [[Grambling State University|Grambling]]. In that contest, McNair returned from an injury and helped Alcorn State, trailing late in the final period, move deep into Tigers' territory. Then, despite a leg injury, he tucked the ball under his arm and dove into the end zone for the winning touchdown. The victory over Grambling helped the Braves qualify for the I-AA playoffs where they faced off against then-Northeast Louisiana, falling 78–27 to the Indians on November 21, 1992. McNair helped Alcorn State to another good year in 1993, as the Braves upped their record to 8–3 while McNair threw for more than 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. He was also named First-Team All-SWAC for the third year in a row. In his senior season, McNair gained 6,281 combined yards rushing (904) and passing (5,377), along with 56 touchdowns. In the process, he surpassed more than a dozen records and was named an All-American. In addition, McNair won the [[Walter Payton Award]] as the top I-AA player<!--This was the last Payton Award for which all I-AA players were eligible. The next year, it became an offense-only award with the creation of the Buck Buchanan Award.--> and finished third in the [[Heisman Trophy]] voting behind [[Rashaan Salaam]] and [[Ki-Jana Carter]]. McNair set career records for the Football Championship Series with 14,496 passing yards, as well as the division record for total offensive yards with 16,823 career yards.<ref name="fox 07.06.09"/> McNair’s record for total offensive yards still stands as of 2018, but his mark for career passing yards was eclipsed by [[Samford Bulldogs football|Samford]] quarterback [[Devlin Hodges]] in 2018.<ref name="fox 07.06.09"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Devlin Hodges notches FCS mark with 14,584 career passing yards|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25304719/devlin-hodges-samford-bulldogs-sets-fcs-career-passing-record%3fplatform=amp|date=November 17, 2018|accessdate=March 4, 2019}}</ref> He was a member of the fraternity [[Omega Psi Phi]], highlighting his allegiance by tattooing "Omega Man" on his arm.<ref name="officialstevemcnair.com"/> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Team !! G !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Long !! Yds/att !! TD !! Rush !! Gain !! Rate |- | 1991 || [[Alcorn State Braves football|Alcorn State]] || 10 || 189 || 338 || 55.9 || 2,895 || 80 || 8.57 || 24 || 57 || 242 || ? |- | 1992 || [[Alcorn State Braves football|Alcorn State]] || 11 || 231 || 419 || 55.1 || 3,541 || 85 || 8.45 || 29 || 92 || 516 || ? |- | 1993 || [[Alcorn State Braves football|Alcorn State]] || 11 || 204 || ? || ? || 3,197 || ? || 90 || 22 || 107 || 633 || ? |- | 1994 || [[Alcorn State Braves football|Alcorn State]] || 11 || 356 || 612 || 58.2 || 5,377 || 99 || 8.79 || 47 || 128 || 904 || ? |- |} ==Professional career== ===Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans=== ====1995-1996 seasons==== With the third overall pick in the [[1995 NFL Draft]], the [[Houston Oilers]] and new head coach [[Jeff Fisher]] selected McNair, making him at the time the highest drafted African-American [[quarterback]] in [[National Football League|NFL]] history and signing him to a seven-year contract. McNair did not see his first action until the last two series of the fourth quarter in a November game versus the [[1995 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]. Late in the season, he also appeared briefly against the [[1995 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] and [[1995 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]. In 1996, McNair remained a backup to Chris Chandler until starting a game on December 8 in Week 15 against the [[1996 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199612080oti.htm|title=Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Oilers - December 8th, 1996 - Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> ====1997 season==== McNair's first season as the Oilers' starter in 1997 (the team's first year in [[Tennessee]]) resulted in an 8–8 record for the team, which played its home games at the [[Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium|Liberty Bowl]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee]]. McNair's 2,665 passing yards were the most for the Oilers in a season since [[Warren Moon]] in 1993, and his 13 interceptions were the fewest for a single season in franchise history. He also led the team in rushing touchdowns with eight and ranked second behind running back [[Eddie George]] with 674 yards on the ground, the third-highest total for a quarterback in NFL history. ====1998 season==== In 1998, McNair set career passing highs with 492 attempts, 289 completions, 3,228 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Oilers, now competing in Nashville. He also cut his interceptions to ten, helping his quarterback rating climb to 80.1. ====1999 season: Super Bowl season==== The team officially changed its name from Oilers to Titans for the 1999 season as they debuted a new stadium, [[Adelphia Coliseum]]. Early in the season, McNair was diagnosed with an inflamed disk following the Titans' 36–35 win over the [[1999 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]], and needed surgery. In his stead entered [[Neil O'Donnell]], a veteran who had guided the [[1999 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] to the Super Bowl four years earlier. Over the next five games, O'Donnell led the Titans to a 4–1 record. McNair returned against the [[1999 St. Louis Rams season|St. Louis Rams]], and with McNair starting, Tennessee won seven of its last nine games, good for a record of 13–3 and second place in the [[AFC Central]]. The Titans opened the [[NFL playoffs, 1999–2000|playoffs]] at home against the [[1999 Buffalo Bills season|Buffaolo Bills]] in a Wild Card game, winning on the "[[Music City Miracle]]" and eventually advancing to [[Super Bowl XXXIV]] in a rematch with the Rams. On the second to last play with the Titans facing 3rd down and 5 to go, McNair was hit by two Rams defenders, but he somehow got away and completed a 16-yard pass to [[Kevin Dyson]] to gain a 1st down at the Rams' 10-yard line. On the final play of the game, McNair's pass to Dyson was complete, but [[Final play of Super Bowl XXXIV|Dyson was unable to break the plane of the goal line]], giving the Rams the win. McNair signed a new six-year contract after the 1999 season worth US$47&nbsp;million.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2006-04-22-notes_x.htm?csp=34 Notes: Favre backs McNair; Leinart hires Condon]. ''[[USA Today]]'', April 22, 2006. Retrieved July 4, 2009.</ref> ====2000-2001 seasons==== Following a 13–3 season in 2000 which ended in a playoff loss to the [[2000 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]], McNair put together his most productive year as a pro in 2001. In 2001, McNair registered career passing highs in yards (3,350), completions (264), touchdowns (21) and quarterback rating (90.2). He was also the team's most effective rusher, tying George for the club lead with five scores. Named to the Pro Bowl for the first time, McNair sat out the game due to a shoulder injury.<ref>The Steve McNair Foundation, [http://www.officialstevemcnair.com/biography.php?pageid=3 Biography]. Retrieved July 4, 2009.</ref> ====2002 season==== In 2002, Tennessee finished the regular season 11–5 and reached the playoffs. In the divisional playoff contest against the [[2002 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]], McNair threw for a career postseason high 338 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions, while rushing for 29 yards and another score on the ground. The game had a controversial finish when, after missing a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation time and a second failed kick in overtime was negated because of a controversial running-into-the-kicker penalty on Pittsburgh's [[Dewayne Washington]], kicker [[Joe Nedney]] won the game from 26 yards out 2:15 into overtime. Steelers coach [[Bill Cowher]] said that he called a timeout before the winning kick took place. McNair and the Titans reached the AFC Championship game but were unable to reach the Super Bowl, losing to the [[Oakland Raiders]] 41–24. Between the 2002 and 2003 seasons, McNair was arrested for DUI and illegal gun possession (in May 2003). His blood alcohol was above 0.10, and a 9-mm handgun had been sitting in the front of the car.<ref>[http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/7518506 Judge: Officer didn't have 'sufficient basis' to stop McNair for DUI]. ''[[CBSSports.com]]'', July 22, 2004. Retrieved July 4, 2009.</ref> All charges related to the incident were later dropped.<ref name="fox 07.06.09"/> ====2003 season==== In December of the 2003 season, an injured calf and ankle kept McNair sidelined for two games, though he still finished with the best numbers of his career, including 3,215 passing yards, 24 touchdown passes, just seven interceptions,<ref>{{cite web|last=Rank|first=Adam|url=http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap2000000324888/NFL-players-from-historically-black-colleges|title=NFL players from historically black colleges|publisher=[[National Football League]]|date=February 10, 2014|accessdate=February 27, 2014}}</ref> and a quarterback rating of 100.4. The Titans ended at 12–4, the same record as the Colts, but Indianapolis took the [[AFC South]] division championship by virtue of its two victories over Tennessee. McNair and Colts quarterback [[Peyton Manning]] were named co-NFL MVPs following the 2003 season, which ended the Titans' season in a playoff loss to the [[2003 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]. McNair finished the 2003 season as the league leader in [[passer rating]] and became the youngest player in NFL history to pass for 20,000 yards and run for 3,000 yards. ====2004-2005 seasons==== McNair missed the 2004 season's fourth game with a bruised sternum, an injury suffered the previous week against Jacksonville,<ref>[http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2004/09/27/McNair-hospitalized-with-bruised-sternum/UPI-14731096324472/ McNair hospitalized with bruised sternum]. ''[[UPI]]'', September 27, 2004. Retrieved July 4, 2009.</ref> and played in only five more games that season. In 2005, he played in 14 games because of a back injury. This series of season-ending injuries prompted the Titans to make the business decision of locking McNair out of team headquarters in the 2006 offseason. The team would not let him rehab in its building because it feared an injury would force the franchise to pay him $23.46&nbsp;million (his contract had been restructured so often that his salary cap reached a hard-to-manage amount). The [[Players Association]]'s filed a grievance on his behalf, for which an arbitrator ruled that the team violated its contract, opening the possibility for a trade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp08/news/story?id=3545105|title=McNair visits Titans, doesn't have animosity over parting – NFL|work=ESPN.com|accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> ===Baltimore Ravens=== [[File:Steve McNair Tackle.jpg|250px|thumb|McNair seen being tackled during an October 2006 game against the San Diego Chargers]] Following the 2005 season, on April 30, 2006, the Titans allowed McNair and his agent, [[James "Bus" Cook]], to speak with the Ravens to try to work out a deal.<ref name="Walker">Walker, Teresa M. [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/ravens/2006-06-08-mcnair-passes-physical_x.htm McNair introduced as Ravens' new starting QB]. ''[[USA Today]]'', June 8, 2006. Retrieved July 4, 2009.</ref> On May 1, 2006, the [[Baltimore Sun]] reported that the Baltimore Ravens might wait for McNair to be released by the Titans during free agency.{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}} Speculation was that the Titans might hold onto McNair until the week before training camp in late July if the Ravens didn't come up with a satisfactory trade offer for McNair according to a league source.<ref>Clayton, John. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2473771 McNair could have playoff impact in Baltimore]. ''[[ESPN.com]]'', May 24, 2006. Retrieved July 4, 2009.</ref> However, on June 7, 2006, the two teams worked out a deal to send McNair to the Ravens for a 4th-round pick in the [[2007 NFL Draft]]. On June 8, McNair flew to Baltimore, passed a physical, and was announced as the newest member of the Ravens.<ref name="Walker" /> ====2006 season==== The 2006 season saw McNair start each game for the Ravens, missing only portions of two games. In the week 14 game against the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], McNair threw the longest regular-season touchdown pass in the Ravens' history, when he threw an 89-yard touchdown pass to receiver [[Mark Clayton (American football, born 1982)|Mark Clayton]],<ref>[http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-1/a-look-back-at-the-career-of-steve-mcnair/7bafa73a-0a67-4b0b-847d-c74e278737fb A Look Back at the Career of Steve McNair:Career Highlights, 2006 Baltimore] www.titansonline.com</ref> McNair helped Baltimore to a 13–3 record and an [[AFC North]] Championship. McNair started at quarterback in his first playoff game as a Raven when his team faced the Colts on January 13, 2007. McNair was 18 of 29 for 173 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, as the Ravens lost 15–6. ====2007 season==== On May 9, 2007, McNair was a passenger in a car that was pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving. Both the driver of the vehicle, his brother-in-law, and McNair were arrested for driving under the influence. Under Tennessee law, one can still be arrested for DUI even as a passenger in one's own car and the driver is believed to be under the influence. McNair owned the pick-up truck involved and was charged with DUI by consent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ravens' McNair arrested on DUI charge |publisher=Baltimore Sun |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-mcnair0510,0,2911203.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines |first=Jamison |last=Hensley |date=May 10, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512012343/http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-mcnair0510,0,2911203.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines |archivedate=May 12, 2007 }}</ref> The charges were dropped on July 10, 2007.<ref>Walker, Teresa M., [http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d800132b7/printable/dui-charge-against-mcnair-dropped DUI charge against McNair dropped] (July 18, 2007), Associated Press, Retrieved on July 26, 2007.</ref> In 2007, McNair did not play in Week 2 against the Jets which the Ravens won 20–13. He also did not play the full game in Week 3, however, the game was won by the Ravens, 26–23. McNair missed nine more games during the rest of the season, including getting pulled after taking many hits from Steelers' linebacker [[James Harrison (American football)|James Harrison]] in Week 9, and fumbling the ball twice. McNair only started six games for the Ravens in 2007. ===Retirement=== After thirteen seasons in the NFL, McNair announced his retirement from professional football in April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2008/04/McNair_Says_Goodbye_to_Ravens_NFL.aspx|title=McNair Says Goodbye to Ravens, NFL|publisher=Baltimoreravens.com|accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> In July 2012, McNair was named the thirty-fifth greatest quarterback of the NFL's post-merger era, according to Football Nation.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.footballnation.com/content/top-100-qbs-since-the-merger-40-21/15546/ | work=Football Nation | title=Top 100 Modern Quarterbacks: 40–21 | date=July 26, 2012 | deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030200111/http://www.footballnation.com/content/top-100-qbs-since-the-merger-40-21/15546/ | archivedate=October 30, 2012 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> ===NFL statistics=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Team !! G !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Long !! Yds/att !! TD !! Int !! Fmb !! Rate |- | [[1995 NFL season|1995]] || [[1995 Houston Oilers season|HOU]] || 4 || 41 || 80 || 51.3 || 569 || 53 || 7.11 || 3 || 1 || 2 || 81.7 |- | [[1996 NFL season|1996]] || [[1996 Houston Oilers season|HOU]] || 9 || 88 || 143 || 61.5 || 1,197 || 83 || '''8.37''' || 6 || 4 || 5 || 90.6 |- | [[1997 NFL season|1997]] || [[1997 Tennessee Oilers season|TEN]] || '''16''' || 216 || 415 || 52.0 || 2,665 || 55 || 6.42 || 14 || 13 || '''9''' || 70.4 |- | [[1998 NFL season|1998]] || [[1998 Tennessee Oilers season|TEN]] || '''16''' || 289 || '''492''' || 58.7 || 3,228 || 47 || 6.56 || 15 || 10 || 4 || 80.1 |- | [[1999 NFL season|1999]] || [[1999 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]] || 11 || 187 || 331 || 56.5 || 2,179 || 65 || 6.58 || 12 || 8 || 2 || 78.6 |- | [[2000 NFL season|2000]] || [[2000 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]] || '''16''' || 248 || 396 || 62.6 || 2,847 || 56 || 7.19 || 15 || 13 || 5 || 83.2 |- | [[2001 NFL season|2001]] || [[2001 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]] || 15 || 264 || 431 || 61.3 || 3,350 || 71 || 7.77 || 21 || 12 || 1 || 90.2 |- | [[2002 NFL season|2002]] || [[2002 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]] || '''16''' || '''301''' || '''492''' || 61.2 || '''3,387''' || 55 || 6.88 || 22 || '''15''' || 6 || 84.0 |- | [[2003 NFL season|2003]] || [[2003 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]] || 14 || 250 || 400 || 62.5 || 3,215 || 73 || 8.04 || '''24''' || 7 || 7 || '''100.4''' |- | [[2004 NFL season|2004]] || [[2004 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]] || 8 || 129 || 215 || 60.0 || 1,343 || 37 || 6.25 || 8 || 9 || 3 || 73.1 |- | [[2005 NFL season|2005]] || [[2005 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]] || 14 || 292 || 476 || 61.3 || 3,161 || 57 || 6.64 || 16 || 11 || 6 || 82.4 |- | [[2006 NFL season|2006]] || [[2006 Baltimore Ravens season|BAL]] || '''16''' || 295 || 468 || 63.0 || 3,050 || '''87''' || 6.52 || 16 || 12 || 3 || 82.5 |- | [[2007 NFL season|2007]] || [[2007 Baltimore Ravens season|BAL]] || 6 || 133 || 205 || '''64.9''' || 1,113 || 30 || 5.43 || 2 || 4 || 6 || 73.9 |- | Career || || 161 || 2,733 || 4,544 || 60.1 || 31,304 || 87 || 6.9 || 174 || 119 || 59 || 82.8 |} <ref name=ESPN>{{cite web|title=Steve McNair Stats|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/733/steve-mcnair|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|accessdate=March 10, 2014}}</ref><ref name=ALCORN>{{cite web|title=#1 Steve McNair|url=http://www.alcornsports.com/news/2014/8/29/FB_0829141335.aspx|publisher=Alcorn State University|accessdate=December 3, 2017}}</ref> ==Personal life== McNair was married to Mechelle McNair<ref name=FoundationBiography>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialstevemcnair.com/biography.php|title=The Steve McNair Foundation, biography|publisher=Officialstevemcnair.com|accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> from June 21, 1997, until his death. He split his time between a farm in Mississippi and [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref name="fox 07.06.09"/> McNair had two sons by Mechelle: Tyler and Trenton; and two sons – Steve LaTreal McNair, Jr. and Steven O'Brian McNair – by two other women before they married.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4364855|title=McNair's estate not a problem|work=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=Associated Press|date=July 29, 2009|accessdate=June 9, 2010}}</ref> McNair earned the nickname "Air McNair" in high school. He opened his own restaurant in Nashville, which he named Gridiron9.<ref name=Restaurant>{{cite news|url=http://wkrn.com/2009/07/01/former-titans-qb-opens-nashville-restaurant/|title= Former Titans' QB opens Nashville restaurant |work=WKRN News 2|date= July 1, 2009|accessdate=}}</ref> ==Death== On July 4, 2009, McNair was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds, along with the body of a young woman named Sahel "Jenni" Kazemi, in a condominium rented by McNair, at 105 Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville.<ref name=TennesseanKilled>{{cite news |title=Steve McNair and Sahel Kazemi killed |url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2009/07/04/steve-mcnair-and-sahel-kazemi-killed/28936587/|author1=Kate Howard |author2=Jaime Sarrio |author3=Chris Echegaray |work=[[The Tennessean]] |location=[[Nashville, Tennessee]] |date=July 4, 2009 |accessdate=July 5, 2009}}</ref> Kazemi and McNair were previously involved with each other romantically. The day of the shooting, text messages between the pair were exchanged proclaiming their love to one another in which Kazemi texted the victim "u love me" in which McNair replied "I love you baby."<ref name=Saltzman>{{cite news |last1=Saltzman |first1=Sammy |title=Sahel Kazemi and Steve McNair Final Texts Show Worries of Love and Money |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sahel-kazemi-and-steve-mcnair-final-texts-show-worries-of-love-and-money/ |accessdate=September 28, 2016 |work=CBS News |date=October 20, 2009}}</ref> There was also a conversation about financial issues where McNair transferred $2,000 to Kazemi, who claimed she was "stressed" and needed to pay her phone bill. McNair then offered to come over to check on her after she said her chest felt heavy. The night of his death, McNair put his children to bed, then at 11:00&nbsp;pm he texted Kazemi "On my way."<ref name=Saltzman/> McNair had been shot twice in the body and twice in the head, with only one of the shots coming from closer than three feet.<ref name="AP McNair">{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090705/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_mcnair_killed|last1=Miller|first1=Teresa M.|title=Tenn. police rule ex-QB McNair's death a homicide|date=July 5, 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708140147/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090705/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_mcnair_killed |archivedate=July 8, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5632LE20090705 | agency=Reuters | title=Autopsy planned for slain NFL star Steve McNair | date=July 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name=NashvillePublicRadio>{{cite news |title=Steve McNair Found Dead |url=http://wpln.org/?p=9180 |author=Blake Farmer |work=[[WPLN-FM|WPLN]]–[[FM broadcasting|FM]] |publisher=[[WPLN-FM]] |location=[[Nashville, Tennessee]] |date=July 5, 2009 |accessdate=July 5, 2009}}</ref> McNair was believed to have been asleep on the couch when the shooting occurred. After killing him, Kazemi sat on the couch beside him and shot herself in the temple.<ref>{{cite web|title=ESPN A Football Life – The tragic passing of Steve McNair|url=http://www.nfl.com/videos/tennessee-titans/0ap1000000081622/A-Football-Life-The-tragic-passing-of-Steve-McNair|website=ESPN.com|publisher=NFL Films|accessdate=May 28, 2016|ref=Documentary}}</ref> The bodies were discovered by McNair's friends Wayne Neely and Robert Gaddy, who called 911.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gridironfans.com/forums/latest-nfl-headlines/101576-police-release-911-tapes-steve-mcnair-case.html |title=[NFL&#93; Police Release 911 Tapes in Steve McNair Case |publisher=Gridironfans.com |date= |accessdate=November 20, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711131257/http://gridironfans.com/forums/latest-nfl-headlines/101576-police-release-911-tapes-steve-mcnair-case.html |archivedate=July 11, 2011 }}</ref> The [[Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (Tennessee)|Nashville police]] declared McNair's death a murder-suicide, with Kazemi as the perpetrator<ref name="perp">{{cite web|url=http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090708/NEWS03/90708043|title=Police Declare Murder-Suicide in Steve McNair case|work=The Tennessean|accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> and McNair as the victim.<ref>Fleeman, Mike. [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20290108,00.html Coroner: Steve McNair a Victim of Murder-Suicide] ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'', July 8, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2009.</ref> The 9mm gun used was found under Kazemi's body and later tests revealed "trace evidence of (gunpowder) residue on her left hand."<ref name="perp"/> Kazemi had a worsening financial situation and also suspected that McNair was in another extramarital relationship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-mcnairkilled&prov=ap&type=lgns |title=Yahoo! Sports – Sports News, Scores, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=November 20, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.police.nashville.org/docs/newsletter/2009/0710.pdf|title=Official Newsletter of the Metro Nashville Police Department, July 10, 2009|publisher=Police.nashville.org|accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> McNair had been having an affair with the 20-year-old Kazemi in the months prior to their deaths.<ref>''[[The News Journal]]'', [http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090705/NEWS/90705004/Police++Steve+McNair+death+is+apparent+murder-suicide+ Police: Steve McNair death is apparent murder-suicide]</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Woman's gun ID'd in Steve McNair death, but questions linger |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2009-07-07-mcnair-mainbar_N.htm |author=Kate Howard |work=[[USA Today]] |date=July 7, 2009 |accessdate=July 7, 2009}}</ref> Two days before their deaths, Kazemi was pulled over in a black 2007 [[Cadillac Escalade]] in Nashville with McNair in the passenger seat and Vent Gordon, a chef at a restaurant McNair owned, in the back seat. The vehicle was registered in the names of both McNair and Kazemi. She was charged with [[driving under the influence of alcohol]].<ref name=TennesseanKilled /> McNair was not arrested, instead leaving in a taxi with Gordon, despite Kazemi repeatedly asking the arresting officer to tell McNair to come to the police car to talk to her. However, McNair later bailed Kazemi out of jail.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/07102009/news/nationalnews/qb_gave_gal_a_goodbye_diss_178565.htm|title=The New York Post: QB GAVE GAL A GOODBYE DISS|work=New York Post|accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> Police later stated that after release from jail, Kazemi purchased the gun from a convicted murderer she met while looking for a buyer for her Kia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090706/NEWS/90706013/Police++Kazemi+bought+gun+found+at+scene|title=The Clarion-Ledger: Police: Kazemi bought gun found at scene|work=The Clarion-Ledger|accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> Titans owner [[Bud Adams]] released a statement regarding McNair:<ref>[http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-1/statement-from-titans-owner-ks-bud-adams-jr-regarding-steve-mcnair/b73f4e09-7794-430d-95e5-fedf4645269d Statement From Titans Owner K.S. 'Bud' Adams, Jr. Regarding Steve McNair]. ''TitansOnline.com'', July 4, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2009.</ref> {{quote|We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair's passing today. He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they deal with his untimely passing.}} In a statement to the [[Associated Press|AP]], [[Ozzie Newsome]], executive vice president and general manager of the [[Baltimore Ravens]], stated:<ref name="AP McNair"/><ref>[http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2009/07/Steve_McNair_Found_Murdered.aspx Former QB Steve McNair Found Murdered] baltimoreravens.com</ref> {{quote|This is so, so sad. We immediately think of his family, his boys. They are all in our thoughts and prayers. What we admired most about Steve when we played against him was his competitive spirit, and we were lucky enough to have that with us for two years. He is one of the best players in the NFL over the last 20 years...}} The Titans held a two-day memorial at [[LP Field]] on July 8 and 9, 2009, where fans could pay their last respects to McNair. Highlights from his career were played throughout each day and fans were able to sign books that were later given to the McNair family. During the 2009 NFL season, every member of the Titans wore a commemorative "9" sticker placed on the back of each helmet to honor McNair. Funeral services were held for McNair at the Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi on July 11; he was buried at Griffith Cemetery in [[Prentiss, Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi|Prentiss, Mississippi]]. McNair died without a [[last will and testament]], and his assets were frozen pending [[probate]] of his estate.<ref>[http://www.familyarchivalsolutions.com/steve-mcnair-perils-dying-without-a-will/ Steve McNair and the Perils of Dying Without a Will], accessed September 12, 2017</ref> In October 15, 2010, it was reported that McNair's widow went to a Nashville judge and asked that at least a portion of the assets be unfrozen for his children's care and expenses until the estate matters were resolved in court. The judge agreed and each of the four children received $500,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Judge Gives McNair's Widow, Children $500k each|work=Miami Herald|agency=Associated Press|date=October 15, 2010 }}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==External links== {{External media |align=right <!-- |width=350px --> |video1=[http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d807d39d7/Back-in-the-Day-Steve-McNair-pt-3 McNair at Alcorn State] |video2=[http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d807d3b4e/Back-in-the-Day-Steve-McNair-pt-4 McNair with the Tennessee Titans] |video3=[http://www.baltimoreravens.com/media_library/Videos/2008/04/Steve_McNair_Retirement_PC.aspx?id=aa8c0ca16e744a47bdc698307d61e51a McNair's retirement press conference] }} {{wikiquote}} * {{Footballstats |nfl=MCN033803 |espn=733 |cbs=1069 |yahoo=3114 |si=3114 |pfr=M/McNaSt00 |dbf= |rotoworld=232}} * {{Find a Grave|39067686}} {{"Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year}} {{Walter Payton Award}} {{1995 NFL Draft}} {{Houston Oilers 1995 draft navbox}} {{TitansFirstPick}} {{AP NFL MVPs}} {{Tennessee Titans starting quarterback navbox}} {{Baltimore Ravens starting quarterback navbox}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:McNair, Steve}} [[Category:1973 births]] [[Category:2009 deaths]] [[Category:2009 murders in the United States]] [[Category:African-American players of American football]] [[Category:Alcorn State Braves football players]] [[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]] [[Category:American football quarterbacks]] [[Category:Baltimore Ravens players]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Mississippi]] [[Category:Deaths by firearm in Tennessee]] [[Category:Houston Oilers players]] [[Category:Murdered African-American people]] [[Category:Murdered players of American football]] [[Category:Murder–suicides in the United States]] [[Category:People from Mount Olive, Mississippi]] [[Category:People murdered in Tennessee]] [[Category:Players of American football from Mississippi]] [[Category:Tennessee Oilers players]] [[Category:Tennessee Titans players]] [[Category:Walter Payton Award winners]] [[Category:Violence against men in North America]]'