The enormity of his death cannot be overstated. But this moment in front of the school is a good one. Right now, my mom's here with me, but like when Trent's gone off to school and meets somebody, and then my mom, who knows how long -- I'm not saying who's going to go before who because that's not necessarily true -- but she's older. Regarding Steve McNair", "McNair's funeral draws thousands in Mississippi", "Steve McNair and the Perils of Dying Without a Will", "Tenn. Judge Gives McNair's Widow, Children $500k each", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_McNair&oldid=1152382932, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 22:36. [21] 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. He will want to spend more time with his friends, not his mom. In 2011, a legal spat between Mechelle and Lucille over property in Mississippi played out in the local news media. But soon,everyone knew. 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. MT. Over the next five games, O'Donnell led the Titans to a 41 record. When it hit her, she fell to the floor, screaming. But when she saw how committed Tyler was to dance, she told him to do what makes him happy. He never forced his sons to play sports. Former Titans Chris Johnson and Vince Young took the boys to the locker room, just as their dad had done. Tyler came home for about a month, but he wasn't really there. Initially, she did not believe her husband was dead. He opened his own restaurant in Nashville, which he named Gridiron9. When you walk into Lucille McNair's memory room, it's hard not be overwhelmed with the accomplishments of her sons, especially the one known as Steve "Air" McNair; a legacy she says began when Steve was a young boy, following in the footsteps of his older brother Fred. Steve McNair | Biography, Statistics, Death, & Facts | Britannica He was a tenacious defender who helped his team win two state championships. [5], McNair played college football at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, where he won the 1994 Walter Payton Award as the top player in NCAA Division I-AA. More on Steve McNair EXCLUSIVE: Steve McNair: A mother's memories - wlbt.com The vision of a 10-year-old boy holding a knife was like a cold bucket of water in the face. Tyler believes it's the same thing his dad would have said. McNair's mourners honor a hero, legend - The Denver Post He did annoying things, peeking at her test answers, sticking his giant feet on her book bag. Wade Payne/AP Photo I got to dance all the time, I got to travel, and I got into the college I wanted to. McNair helped Alcorn State to another good year in 1993, as the Braves upped their record to 83 while McNair threw for more than 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. Stephen LaTreal McNair (February 14, 1973 July 4, 2009),[2] nicknamed "Air McNair",[3][4] was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans franchise. McNair was selected with the third pick in the 1995 NFL draft by the Houston Oilerswho became the Tennessee Titans in 1999. When he headed back east after winter break, Trent refused to go to the airport because he didn't want to cry. Mourners console Lucille McNair, the mother of Steve McNair, during the former NFL quarterback's funeral Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. It was just like 2009. He had four brothers, Fred, Jason, Michael, and Tim. She had hoped to go to Southern Miss. (She was never a suspect). NFL home Piller went to one of Trent's basketball games recently, and the younger McNair didn't disappoint. They met at Alcorn State, a historically black college in rural Claiborne County, Mississippi. On a recent winter afternoon, Mechelle is sitting in the dining room of their house in the hills of Nashville, waiting to pick Trent up from school. She says she protects her heart and her kids. He went on to commit to play wide receiver at Southern Miss before playing at Pearl River Community College. Tyler, who was 10, started crying. So now that years have gone by, we cant help but wonder about the people Steve left behind. Steve McNair's Death Left Behind a Family Who Now Makes Him Proud The estate of the former pro, who played 11 seasons with the Tennessee Titans and two with the. "He was the first one saying how proud he was of me and how proud my dad would be. Trent, who was 5, rested his head on his mother's lap during the service. That drove Mechelle nuts, the waking up in the middle of the night. His blood alcohol was above 0.10, and a 9-mm handgun was sitting in the front of the car. "I don't think he's doing that, but I want him to see me doing something where he feels like he has a drive." She never worried about that with Tyler, but for some reason, she thinks about it now that it's just her and Trent. [20] By May of 2006, the Baltimore Sun reported that the Baltimore Ravens were interested in McNair. He tried to do both at first, but soon it was too much. He leaned on his mother, Mechelle, and Tyler, at left. At that point, Mechelle had a boyfriend and was only focused on pursuing a career in the medical field as a doctor. [48], Titans owner Bud Adams released a statement regarding McNair:[49]. Over the course of his NFL career, McNair passed for 31,304 yards, rushed for 3,590 yards, played in three Pro Bowls, and was named joint Most Valuable Player in 2003, along with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. He wore bandages for weeks. [22] 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. I've been there.". He split time between his home in Nashville and his farm in Collins, Mississippi. She was so happy at the end of their talk, when he said she could attend the next employee meeting. "He would just come home and be, like, dead," Tyler says. When a parent dies young and leaves behind children, people make promises. [23], On May 9, 2007, McNair was arrested in Nashville for drunk driving even though he was not driving at the time. And I said what you ain't got,you can't miss it.". Just 24 hours earlier, McNair had taken his sons fishing. He made a mistake. God and her friends and family who cooked and took the kids swimming and handled everything. She stood up, the pain radiated from the right side of her skull, and she had to lie back down. Her children had never seen her like that. The well-known footballer, Steve, died on 4 July 2009 at the age of 46. "They were wrestling all the time,tearing thebed down and fixing the bed back up. Before she met McNair, Mechelle never thought she would get married. Steve McNair was buried on a Saturday in his home state of Mississippi. She keeps McNair's football memorabilia in the basement, where Trent dribbles his basketball and Tyler practices his dance moves. "That word will always get to me. He told Mechelle that the alarm was going off at his restaurant, but she knows now that Kazemi was probably the one who called. Although she didn't grow up playing sports, Mechelle quickly acclimated herself to the life of a football wife. The team officially changed its name from Oilers to Titans for the 1999 season as they debuted a new stadium, Adelphia Coliseum. She never imagined she'd leave Mississippi after college to move to Houston with a man who had just been selected at No. Here was an NFL quarterback one season into retirement, a former co-MVP and a Super Bowl participant, murdered. [29][30], McNair was married to Mechelle McNair[31] from June 21, 1997, until his death. But Lucille was more concerned with themmoving in the classroom. Trent is headstrong and stubborn and has a bit of a temper. At the time of their father's demise, Tyler started crying and got a kitchen knife and tried to kill himself, saying he can't live without his father. Between the 2002 and 2003 seasons, McNair was arrested for DUI and illegal gun possession (in May 2003). Steve McNair, in full Steve LaTreal McNair, byname Air McNair, (born February 14, 1973, Mount Olive, Mississippi, U.S.died July 4, 2009, Nashville, Tennessee), American gridiron football player who threw 174 touchdown passes during his 13 National Football League (NFL) seasons (19952008), primarily while playing for the Tennessee Titans. They are best friends. He did not have a will, creating a painful mess that dragged on for years. Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair Thank you for subscribing! He'd say, 'I just need some rest.'" Mechelle sits in the stands and yells at him to "keep your face straight." "Nope," she says. But,according to his mother,that was just a fraction of who Steve McNair was. Omissions? How was she feeling? Today, his estate is still dealing with his lack of planning. McNairs wife Michele cut his mother out of her grandchildrens life. But Fred was more,Fred would pick you apart. The couple had first met at Alcorn State, a historically black university in Claiborne County, Mississippi. There were many people at McNair's funeral who vowed to be there for Tyler and Trent. McNair grew up in Mississippi and chose to attend the rural Alcorn State University, a historically Black Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision [FCS]) school where he could play quarterback, rather than serve as defensive back at a major university. Her statement read, in part, Your prayers, kind deeds, and outpouring of support throughout this difficult time have been of tremendous comfort to usYou are appreciated beyond measure. Moreover, in the months that followed, despite the fact that Steve had not left a will, her lawyers revealed that, as per instructions, she would not exclude any of his kids from his estate. She said she couldn't bear to lose both of them. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Steve-McNair, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame - Steve McNair, Pro Football History - The Life And Career Of QB Steve McNair. Sahel Kazemi's nephew reveals she expected Steve McNair to divorce wife "[38] McNair, who was believed to have been asleep on the couch when the shooting occurred, was shot twice in the body and twice in the head, with only one of the shots coming from closer than three feet. "I think it was important for [Lucille] because you see a part of your son you lost," Mechelle says. SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE. The Tragic Death of Steve McNair Still Causing - Sportscasting "Everyone went to college and I bought them a bible and I told them,God come first, books come second and their sports come next," said Lucille. According to Piller, Trent hit five 3-pointers. Everyone changed. Family of Steve McNair dividing up estate despite lack of signed will - al One year after former Tennessee Titans star Steve McNair was shot and killed, details emerge about the life of Sahel Kazemi, the woman who police say pulled the trigger then turned the gun on herself. A handful of them delivered. He sees flashes of his friend, and it helps him stay close to him. He tried to do both at first, but soon it was too much. McNair had dreams of his restaurant becoming a chain. Everyone wanted to know what Mechelle was feeling. When McNair was alive, if one of the boys was struggling with a batting stance or a shot, he could go outside, spend 30 minutes with him and get it figured out. "But Steve,his feet,he just moved. That same show aired as a rerun last week, on the night of the Super Bowl. It would not go away. "Mama," Mechelle asked, "do you think it's true?" One year after former Tennessee Titans star Steve McNair was shot and killed, details emerge about the life of Sahel Kazemi, the woman who police say pulled the trigger then turned the gun on herself. According to his wife, Michele, the will that his agent claimed was drawn up has been lost. [8], McNair was born in a small tin-roofed house in Mount Olive, Mississippi on February 14, 1973. He'd say, 'I just need some rest.'". McNair came in and threw a touchdown to Erron Kinney; a missed Steelers field goal attempt resulted in the Titans winning 2320. Because I hurt like everybody else. Steve and Mechelle shares two children from their marital relationship. Well, Steve was a prominent American football player who played as a quarterback in the NFL (National Football League) for Baltimore Ravens before retirement. The two were living happily with each other and also parenting their two children until 2009. Steve McNair was born on Valentine's Day, and he died on the Fourth of July. Time, if you handle it right, has a way of filtering out the bad memories but leaving the good. I don't. Her husband would have done things differently. "I'll be back in a little while," he said. She had plans. For more, watch E:60's story, "Heir McNair," on Sunday at 9 a.m. on ESPN, or stream it on WatchESPN. Elyria Parent Sprays Elementary School Principal With Mace, Faces Felony, Become and DJ for Day Plus win $500 from Z1079. "They were slipping and playing football on the peewee team. He didn't want to watch TV, didn't want to eat anything. McNair's success in the NFL netted him a fortune. For whatever reason, Michelle believes that Lucille should have to pay ($3,000/month) to live in the home that her millionaire son built. As they enter new stages of their lives, they wonder what their father would think. A few months after his death, the restaurant was sold. In a short while, the officials concluded that shed shot her boyfriend before turning the gun on herself in a jealous rage. But after Steve's death, the most intimate details of her life were fodder for public consumption. Somehow, he seared his hands. The enormity of his death cannot be overstated. He split time between his home in Nashville and his farm in Collins, Mississippi. [9], 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. But now one of them is leaving, and Mechelle is just trying not to lose it. He will want to spend more time with his friends, not his mom. She would not lose it in front of them. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. She would go to her room, door closed, and sob. He made a mistake. If I'm playing football and I hear her, I kind of just ignore it. On July 4, 2009, the former Titans player was found in his downtown Nashville condo with multiple gunshot wounds alongside his mistress, Sahel Jenni Kazemi. His good friend Zach Piller, right, protected him on the field and served as one of his pallbearers. She had one job: to raise their sons. He split his time between a farm in Mississippi and Nashville, Tennessee. Dance was his release, a way of working through his emotions. I can't wallow in it. Then, despite a leg injury, he tucked the ball under his arm and dove into the end zone for the winning touchdown. But when she saw how committed Tyler was to dance, she told him to do what makes him happy. Mechelle appreciates the little things, such as the neighbor who used to replace the boys' basketball net whenever it looked worn, or the random texts Piller sends to the boys to ask how it's going. He said he had to go, and kissed the boys goodbye. Tyler graduated from Brentwood in the spring. I'm not going to do it.". Sometimes on the Fourth of July, he picked up the kids and bought fireworks and did anything that took their minds off the anniversary. It is a misdemeanor offense in Tennessee for an owner of a motor vehicle to knowingly allow an intoxicated person to drive the vehicle. He was also named First-Team All-SWAC for the third year in a row. "Mama," Mechelle asked, "do you think it's true?". All rights reserved. And that I still don't sometimes. According to Piller, Trent hit five 3-pointers. In 2007, McNair did not play in Week 2 against the Jets in which the Ravens won 2013. "I know what he's thinking. In his last days, McNair seemed overwhelmed at times, almost as if he was at a crossroads, Mechelle says. The McNairs never had a lot,but Lucille saysthey had each other. He was the starting quarterback for Alcorn State for all but one game in his four-year college football career. Mechelle could handle algebra and first crushes, but sometimes, a boy needs a male figure in his life. But she put off doing the paperwork, and Alcorn was the school that offered her a scholarship. This past summer, Mechelle and her sons visited Lucille in Mississippi. She wasn't into sports, and she already had a boyfriend. "He said momma,we need the moneyand I said look,your education is more important," said Lucille. Late Steve McNair's Wife, Mechelle McNair Is Still Grieving His Husband [35] 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. He's going to kick the world's ass. Editor's note: Sports Illustrated is releasing a podcast examining the death of former Titans quarterback . He pushed an air mattress beside Tyler's bed when his brother was home and slept there. Brett Favre and Ray Lewis and Jay Cutler showed up for the funeral. She wanted to see him so she could help him. Every season, Mechelle sends Trent's basketball schedule to Mu and to Zach Piller. ". Ex-Tennessee tight end Bo Scaife filled Tyler's closet with sneakers. If I'm playing football and I hear her, I kind of just ignore it. The closest town, if you want to call it that, is Lorman, a community with one known claim to fame, the Old Country Store, which serves fried chicken that people drive hours for. "Isaid we struggling now,we are not always gonna be down. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. When people say that to me, I'm always like, 'Where are they getting this from?' Mechelle is 45 now, and she does not look old enough to be dropping a son off at college. [6] McNair's record for total offensive yards still stands as of 2018, but his mark for career passing yards was eclipsed by Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges in 2018. McNair left a large estate behind that's in probate in both Tennessee and Mississippi. Why Steve McNair's Legacy Won't Be Remembered the Way It Should In 2013, she sold their 13,000-square-foot house and moved to a smaller home. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Steve McNair Jr.was still in high school when his dad died, starring on the gridiron at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg. So, it is safe to say that she is currently a single woman. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. He told them to find something they loved and to do it well. Sports was always one of the tougher areas for Mechelle to navigate. Though McNair was an NFL quarterback, he never wanted to force football or sports on his children. [26], In July 2012, McNair was named the 35th greatest quarterback of the NFL's post-merger era, according to Football Nation. She already had two men in her in life: Tyler, 19, and Trent, who just turned 14. She never worried about that with Tyler, but for some reason, she thinks about it now that it's just her and Trent. How 'Family Matters' Made One of Its Biggest Characters Disappear She said she couldn't bear to lose both of them. Sports was always one of the tougher areas for Mechelle to navigate. I feel like I'm the weakest person sometimes. She had one job: to raise their sons. Dance was his release, a way of working through his emotions. "[38] 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. [9] An All-State selection (offense), McNair was named an All-American by Super Prep magazine (defense). Regardless of how he left here, I know he loved us. But I'm not going to hell blaming somebody or having the hate and animosity in my heart. "When I think about it, I don't want to be old and not have anybody to spend my last days with. It has been exactly ten years of Steve's demise. ", Though McNair was an NFL quarterback, he never wanted to force football or sports on his children. Mechelle appreciates the little things, such as the neighbor who used to replace the boys' basketball net whenever it looked worn, or the random texts Piller sends to the boys to ask how it's going. "I feel like I'm just living. He says she needs to go out more, to have fun sometimes. "They ain't got nothing,he would say. Christmas break is over, and the house is quiet. The now 46-year-old widow continues to keep her partners memories alive through her work and hopes that his children do the same. He was found dead with the body of a young woman, Sahel Kazemi, in a rented house at 105 Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. "[People] always say, 'Oh, I admire you so much. McNair said he loved them. 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,[17] and a quarterback rating of 100.4. She already had two men in her in life: Tyler, 19, and Trent, who just turned 14. She had hoped to go to Southern Miss. Before everything changed. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. She would go to her room, door closed, and sob. See our privacy policy. Steve McNair's wife forces his mother to pay rent then sells house - Bossip Live with Fuel; Saturday, August . 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. Mechelle sits in the stands and yells at him to "keep your face straight." Two Years Later And Steve McNair's Estate Drama Continues After the 2005 season, McNair was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, with whom he played for two seasons before retiring. Well, that's when the drama started between his wife and mom. They met at Alcorn State, a historically black college in rural Claiborne County, Mississippi. You may remember, on July 4, 2009, NFL star Steve McNair was fatally shot by his mistress, Sahel Kazemi (seen below), in a murder-suicide. Regardless of how he left here, I know he loved us. Her children had never seen her like that. Mechelle grabbed him and told him to stop. But his phone kept ringing. She knew how much potential he had. George Clark/Hattiesburg American POOL/Getty Images. She never played. When people say that to me, I'm always like, 'Where are they getting this from?' God and her friends and family who cooked and took the kids swimming and handled everything. "Honestly, the most I've ever felt like a child is this year," Tyler says. Yes. Nine years after Mechelle McNair's world caved in, her oldest son, Tyler, is going to NYU on an academic scholarship. [53], Dyson was unable to break the plane of the goal line, "Titans to Retire Steve McNair's No.