Steve McNair#Death

McNair was born in a small tin-roofed house in Mount Olive, Mississippi, on February 14, 1973. He had four brothers, Fred, Jason, Michael, and Tim. He attended Mount Olive High School as a freshman in the fall of 1987, where he played 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 15 passes, raising his career total to 30, which tied the mark established by Terrell Buckley at Pascagoula High School.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialstevemcnair.com/biography.php |title=The Steve McNair Foundation |publisher=Officialstevemcnair.com |date=February 14, 1973 |access-date=November 20, 2010}} An All-State selection (offense), McNair was named an All-American by Super Prep magazine (defense).

The Seattle Mariners drafted him in the 35th round of the 1991 MLB amateur draft.{{cite news |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=name&name=mcnair | title=MLB Amateur Draft Picks with the Name Matching: mcnair}}

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 University which competes in the NCAA's Division I-AA (now known as the Football Championship Subdivision) Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). In 1992, McNair threw 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. 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. His total offense averages were 571 y/g over 11 games, an all-divisions collegiate per game record. 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 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 15,010 passing yards, as well as the division record for total offensive yards with 17,305 career yards. McNair's record for career passing, total offensive yards, and total number of plays still stand, but his marks for career passing completions and attempts were eclipsed by Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges in 2018.{{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|access-date=March 4, 2019}}

He was a member of the fraternity Omega Psi Phi, highlighting his allegiance by tattooing "Omega Man" on his arm.

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 NFL history and signing him to a seven-year contract.{{Cite web |title=1995 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1995/draft.htm |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} McNair did not see his first action until the last two series of the fourth quarter in a November game versus the Cleveland Browns. Late in the season, he also appeared briefly against the Detroit Lions and New York Jets. In 1996, McNair remained a backup to Chris Chandler until starting a game on December 8 in Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.{{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}}

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 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, at the time the third-highest total for a quarterback in NFL history.

In 1998, McNair set career passing highs with 492 attempts, 289 completions, 3,228 yards, and 15 touchdowns for the Oilers, now playing in Nashville. He also cut his interceptions to ten, helping his quarterback rating climb to 80.1.

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 Cincinnati Bengals, and needed surgery. In his stead entered Neil O'Donnell, a veteran who had guided the 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 St. Louis Rams, and with McNair starting, Tennessee won seven of its last nine games, good for a 13–3 record and second place in the AFC Central.

The Titans opened the playoffs at home against the Buffalo 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 of the game 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 Dyson was unable to break the plane of the goal line, giving the Rams the win. In his only Super Bowl appearance, McNair threw 22-of-36 for 214 yards while rushing eight times for 64 yards.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McNaSt00/gamelog/post/ | title=Steve McNair Career Game Log | website=Pro-Football-Reference.com }} McNair signed a new six-year contract after the 1999 season worth US$47 million.[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. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090708214936/https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2006-04-22-notes_x.htm?csp=34 Archived version]

McNair played in all 16 games in 2000 but did not start the first of two annual games against the Steelers. This was because of a sternum injury incurred in a 17–14 win over the Kansas City Chiefs the previous game. Following the Titans’ bye week Neil O'Donnell started against his former team, but after O’Donnell threw three picks he was sacked out of the game in the final four minutes. McNair came in and threw a touchdown to Erron Kinney; a missed Steelers field goal attempt resulted in the Titans winning 23–20.

Following a 13–3 season in 2000 which ended in a playoff loss to the 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.The Steve McNair Foundation, [http://www.officialstevemcnair.com/biography.php?pageid=3 Biography]. Retrieved July 4, 2009.

In 2002, Tennessee finished the regular season 11–5 and reached the playoffs. In the divisional round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, McNair threw for a career postseason high 338 yards, two touchdowns, and 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 was sitting in the front of the car.[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. All charges related to the incident were later dropped.

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,{{cite web|last=Rank|first=Adam|url=https://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|access-date=February 27, 2014}} and a quarterback rating of 100.4. The Titans finished 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 for the Titans in a playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion 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.

McNair missed the 2004 season's fourth game with a bruised sternum, an injury suffered the previous week against Jacksonville,[https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2004/09/27/McNair-hospitalized-with-bruised-sternum/UPI-14731096324472/ McNair hospitalized with bruised sternum]. United Press International, September 27, 2004. Retrieved July 4, 2009. 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 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 in which an arbitrator ruled that the team violated its contract, opening the possibility for a trade.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/trainingcamp08/news/story?id=3545105|title=McNair visits Titans, doesn't have animosity over parting – National Football League|date=August 20, 2008|publisher=ESPN|access-date=November 17, 2014}}

Following the 2005 season, on April 30, 2006, the Titans allowed McNair and his agent, James "Bus" Cook, to speak with the Baltimore Ravens to try to work out a deal.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. By May 2006, the Baltimore Sun reported that the Ravens were interested in McNair.{{cite web | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2006-05-16-0605160117-story.html | title=McNair's case to be heard today in Tenn | date=May 16, 2006 }} 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.Clayton, John. [https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2473771 McNair could have playoff impact in Baltimore]. ESPN, May 24, 2006. Retrieved July 4, 2009. 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.

File:Steve McNair passes against Raiders 2006-09-17.jpg

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, an 89-yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton. McNair led Baltimore to a 13–3 record and an AFC North Championship. He made his first playoff start as a Raven against the Colts on January 13, 2007. McNair completed 18 of 29 pass attempts for 173 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions as the Ravens lost, 15–6.{{cite web |title=A Look Back at the Career of Steve McNair |url=https://www.titansonline.com/news/a-look-back-at-the-career-of-steve-mcnair-543596 |website=Tennessee Titans |date=July 4, 2009 }}

On May 9, 2007, McNair was arrested in Nashville for drunk driving even though he was not driving at the time. It is a misdemeanor offense in Tennessee for an owner of a motor vehicle to knowingly allow an intoxicated person to drive the vehicle. McNair was riding in his own pickup truck as a passenger when the police stopped the truck's driver, McNair's brother-in-law, for speeding. The driver failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI; McNair was charged with DUI by consent.{{cite news |title=Ravens' McNair arrested on DUI charge |work=The 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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512012343/http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-mcnair0510,0,2911203.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines |archive-date=May 12, 2007}} The quarterback's charge was dropped on July 10, 2007, when McNair's brother-in-law pleaded guilty to reckless driving.Walker, Teresa M., [https://www.nfl.com/news/dui-charge-against-mcnair-dropped-09000d5d800132b7 DUI charge against McNair dropped] (July 18, 2007), Associated Press. Retrieved July 26, 2007.

In 2007, McNair did not play in Week 2 against the Jets in 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, due primarily to injury, only starting in six games. He announced his retirement following the 2007 season.

After 13 seasons in the NFL, McNair announced his retirement from professional football in April 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2008/04/McNair_Says_Goodbye_to_Ravens_NFL.aspx|title=McNair Says Goodbye to Ravens, National Football League|publisher=Baltimoreravens.com|access-date=November 17, 2014|archive-date=March 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324112056/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2008/04/McNair_Says_Goodbye_to_Ravens_NFL.aspx|url-status=dead}} At the time he retired, McNair was one of just three quarterbacks (Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young being the others) to throw for 30,000 yards and run for 3,500 yards.{{cite web | url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2009/07/16/steve-mcnair-the-epitome-of-toughness-during-nfl-career/31714263007/ | title=Steve McNair: The epitome of toughness during NFL career }}

In July 2012, McNair was named the 35th greatest quarterback of the NFL's post-merger era, according to Football Nation.{{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 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030200111/http://www.footballnation.com/content/top-100-qbs-since-the-merger-40-21/15546/ | archive-date=October 30, 2012}}

Steve's number was retired by the Titans during a halftime ceremony against the Indianapolis Colts on September 15, 2019.{{cite web |last=Wyatt |first=Jim |title=Titans to Retire Steve McNair's No. 9 and Eddie George's No. 27 Jerseys at Sunday's Game |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-to-retire-steve-mcnair-s-no-9-and-eddie-george-s-no-27-jerseys |website=www.tennesseetitans.com |access-date=July 10, 2020}}

McNair was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020.{{cite web|title=All Inductees|website=BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org|url=https://www.blackcollegefootballhof.org/inductees/alphabetical|access-date=February 25, 2021|archive-date=February 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202222806/https://www.blackcollegefootballhof.org/inductees/alphabetical|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=NFF Announces Storied 2020 College Football Hall of Fame Class Presented by ETT |url=https://footballfoundation.org/news/2020/3/11/nff-announces-storied-2020-college-football-hall-of-fame-class.aspx |website=National Football Foundation |date=March 11, 2020 |access-date=August 21, 2020}}

McNair was married to Mechelle McNair{{cite web|url=http://www.officialstevemcnair.com/biography.php|title=The Steve McNair Foundation, biography|publisher=Officialstevemcnair.com|access-date=November 17, 2014}} from June 21, 1997, until his death. He split his time between a farm in Mississippi and Nashville, Tennessee. McNair had two sons with Mechelle: Tyler and Trenton; and two sons – Stephen LaTreal McNair Jr. and Steven O'Brian McNair – with two other women before he and Mechelle married.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4364855|title=McNair's estate not a problem|publisher=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|date=July 29, 2009|access-date=June 9, 2010}}

McNair earned the nickname "Air McNair" in high school. He opened his own restaurant in Nashville, which he named Gridiron9.{{cite news |url=https://www.wkrn.com/2009/07/01/former-titans-qb-opens-nashville-restaurant/ |title=Former Titans' QB opens Nashville restaurant |date=July 1, 2009 |work=WKRN-TV News |location=Nashville |publisher=ABC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305031912/https://www.wkrn.com/2009/07/01/former-titans-qb-opens-nashville-restaurant/ |archive-date=March 5, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

NFL linebacker Demario Davis is his cousin.{{cite web |title=Demario Davis Remembers His Cousin, Steve McNair |website=New York Jets |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-5/Demario-Davis-Remembers-His-Cousin-Steve-McNair/5400b930-dc3e-4054-a44e-13ec158dfb87 |first=Franke |last=Charlie |access-date=September 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224120857/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-5/Demario-Davis-Remembers-His-Cousin-Steve-McNair/5400b930-dc3e-4054-a44e-13ec158dfb87 |url-status=dead}}

On July 4, 2009, McNair was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds, along with the body of a 20-year-old woman named Sahel "Jenni" Kazemi, in a condominium rented by McNair in downtown Nashville. He was 36 years old.{{cite news |title=Steve McNair and Sahel Kazemi killed |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2009/07/04/steve-mcnair-and-sahel-kazemi-killed/28936587/|last1=Howard |first1=Kate |last2=Sarrio |first2=Jaime |last3=Echegaray |first3=Chris |work=The Tennessean |location=Nashville, Tennessee |date=July 4, 2009 |access-date=July 5, 2009}} Kazemi and McNair had been previously involved with each other romantically.{{cite news |work=The Tennessean|url=http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090705/NEWS/90705004/Police++Steve+Mcair+death+is+apparent+murder-suicide+ |title=Police: Steve McNair death is apparent murder-suicide|date=July 5, 2009|last1=Howard |first1=Kate |last2=Sarrio |first2=Jaime |last3=Echegaray |first3=Chris |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712084059/http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090705/NEWS/90705004/Police++Steve+McNair+death+is+apparent+murder-suicide+ |archive-date=July 12, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{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 |last=Howard |first=Kate |work=USA Today |date=July 7, 2009 |access-date=July 7, 2009}} 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."{{cite news |last=Saltzman |first=Sammy |title=Sahel Kazemi and Steve McNair Final Texts Show Worries of Love and Money |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sahel-kazemi-and-steve-mcnair-final-texts-show-worries-of-love-and-money/ |access-date=September 28, 2016 |publisher=CBS News |date=October 20, 2009}} 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 p.m. he texted Kazemi "On my way."

McNair, who was believed to have been asleep on the couch when the shooting occurred, was shot twice in the chest and twice in the head, with only one of the shots coming from closer than {{convert|3|ft|m|1|spell=in}}.{{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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708140147/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090705/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_mcnair_killed |archive-date=July 8, 2009}}{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5632LE20090705 | work=Reuters | title=Autopsy planned for slain NFL star Steve McNair |last=Harris |first=Pat| date=July 5, 2009}}{{cite news |title=Steve McNair Found Dead |url=https://wpln.org/post/steve-mcnair-found-dead/ |last=Farmer |first=Blake |work=WPLN–FM |publisher=WPLN-FM |location=Nashville, Tennessee |date=July 5, 2009 |access-date=July 5, 2009}} After killing him, Kazemi sat on the couch beside him and shot herself in the temple.{{cite web|title=ESPN A Football Life – The tragic passing of Steve McNair|url=https://www.nfl.com/videos/tennessee-titans/0ap1000000081622/A-Football-Life-The-tragic-passing-of-Steve-McNair|publisher=ESPN|access-date=May 28, 2016|ref=Documentary}} The bodies were discovered by McNair's friends Wayne Neely and Robert Gaddy, who called 911.{{cite web |url=http://gridironfans.com/forums/latest-nfl-headlines/101576-police-release-911-tapes-steve-mcnair-case.html |title=Police Release 911 Tapes in Steve McNair Case |website=Gridironfans.com |access-date=November 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711131257/http://gridironfans.com/forums/latest-nfl-headlines/101576-police-release-911-tapes-steve-mcnair-case.html |archive-date=July 11, 2011}} The Nashville police declared McNair's death a murder-suicide, with Kazemi as the perpetrator and McNair as the victim.{{cite news |author1=Fleeman, Mike |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20290108,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711092850/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20290108,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 11, 2009 |title=Coroner: Steve McNair a Victim of Murder-Suicide|work=People|date=July 8, 2009|access-date=August 1, 2009}} The 9mm gun used was found under Kazemi's body and later tests revealed "trace evidence of (gunpowder) residue on her left hand. Kazemi had a worsening financial situation and also suspected that McNair was in another extramarital relationship.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-mcnairkilled&prov=ap&type=lgns|title=Police: McNair mistress knew gun seller for weeks|publisher=Associated Press |access-date=November 20, 2010|date=October 20, 2009 |last=Johnson II |first=Lucas L. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027133017/https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-mcnairkilled&prov=ap&type=lgns|archive-date=October 27, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.police.nashville.org/docs/newsletter/2009/0710.pdf|title=MNPD Newsletter |date=July 10, 2009|publisher=Metro Nashville Police Department|access-date=November 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001041916/http://www.police.nashville.org/docs/newsletter/2009/0710.pdf|archive-date=October 1, 2011}}

Two days before their deaths, Kazemi was pulled over in a black 2007 Cadillac Escalade in Nashville. McNair was in the passenger seat and Vent Gordon, a chef at a restaurant McNair owned, was 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. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nypost.com/seven/07102009/news/nationalnews/qb_gave_gal_a_goodbye_diss_178565.htm|title=QB Gave Gal a Goodbye Diss|work=New York Post|date=July 10, 2009 |last=Mangan |first=Dan |access-date=November 17, 2014}} The police later stated that after being released from jail, Kazemi purchased the gun from a convicted murderer she met while looking for a buyer for her Kia.{{cite news|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2018/10/22/steve-mcnair-murder-jenni-kazemi-adrian-gilliam-titans-podcast-gun/1735081002/ |title=The 2009 Murder of Steve McNair: Jenni Kazemi had known man who sold gun to her|date=October 22, 2018|work=The Tennessean |last=Howard |first=Kate}}

Titans owner Bud Adams released a statement regarding McNair:{{cite web |url=http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-1/statement-from-titans-owner-ks-bud-adams-jr-regarding-steve-mcnair/b73f4e09-7794-430d-95e5-fedf4645269d|title=Statement From Titans Owner K.S. 'Bud' Adams, Jr. Regarding Steve McNair|website=Tennessee Titans |date=July 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707002128/http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-1/statement-from-titans-owner-ks-bud-adams-jr-regarding-steve-mcnair/b73f4e09-7794-430d-95e5-fedf4645269d|archive-date=July 7, 2009}}

{{blockquote|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 AP, Ozzie Newsome, executive vice president and general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, stated:{{cite web |title=Former QB Steve McNair Found Murdered |url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/former-qb-steve-mcnair-found-murdered-7746961 |website=Baltimore Ravens |date=July 4, 2009}}

{{blockquote|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 of 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, Mississippi.{{Cite web |date=July 11, 2009 |title=Thousands at McNair funeral |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4320938 |access-date=June 23, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

McNair died without a last will and testament, and his assets were frozen pending probate of his estate.{{cite web |url=http://www.familyarchivalsolutions.com/steve-mcnair-perils-dying-without-a-will/ |title=Steve McNair and the Perils of Dying Without a Will|website=Family Archival Solutions |date=December 10, 2013|access-date=September 12, 2017}} On 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.titansonline.com/news/tenn-judge-gives-mcnair-widow-kids-500k-each-2916934|title=Tenn. Judge Gives McNair's Widow, Children $500k each|website=Tennessee Titans|date=October 15, 2010}}

{{notelist}}

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{{External media

|float=right

|video1=[https://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d807d39d7/Back-in-the-Day-Steve-McNair-pt-3 McNair at Alcorn State]

|video2=[https://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]

}}

• {{Footballstats |espn=733 |yahoo=3114 |pfr=M/McNaSt00}}
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Category:1973 births

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