So this week we sat down with Steve McNair's mother. He announced his retirement following the 2007 season. ". Courtesy Mechelle McNair Things around the McNair family have been tense, to say the least, since Steve passed in 2009. [43] The Nashville police declared McNair's death a murder-suicide, with Kazemi as the perpetrator and McNair as the victim. That was meand God.". McNair had dreams of his restaurant becoming a chain. If I'm playing football and I hear her, I kind of just ignore it. McNair's death shocked the country on the Fourth of July in 2009. It was just like 2009. After thirteen seasons in the NFL, McNair announced his retirement from professional football in April 2008. 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. In fact,he was the first to wear the #9 jersey that his younger brother would eventually make famous. Keep in mind, its a $1 million dollar home that he built for his mom. Yes. Her mother, Melzena Cartwright, saw the news on TV. 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. Although she didn't grow up playing sports, Mechelle quickly acclimated herself to the life of a football wife. By The Associated Press PUBLISHED: July 11, 2009 at 2:24 p . Sahel Kazemi and Steve McNair Final Texts Show Worries of Love and The judge agreed, and each of the four children received $500,000. A post shared by Trent McNair (@trentmac9). She and her sons settled into a house surrounded by trees and the occasional deer that plops down in the middle of the yard. McNair was in the passenger seat and Vent Gordon, a chef at a restaurant McNair owned, was in the back seat. She wasn't into sports, and she already had a boyfriend. He wore bandages for weeks. Similarly, Tyler James McNair was born in 1999 and is currently 20 years old. He had four brothers, Fred, Jason, Michael, and Tim. He'd say, 'I just need some rest.'". At first, Mechelle thought he should stick it out. He went on to commit to play wide receiver at Southern Miss before playing at Pearl River Community College. 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. Timeline of Steve McNair and Sahel 'Jenni' Kazemi leading up to their deaths. Beach Boys; Friday, August 11. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Shot twice in the head and two more times in the chest, former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was the victim of a homicide, police declared Sunday. He ran to the kitchen and got a knife. McNair was selected to the Pro Bowl four times, and was an All-Pro and Co-MVP in 2003. I know how it is when you ain't got nothing,and I never believed that I would be in this position to help other people," said Lucille. In his stead entered Neil O'Donnell, a veteran who had guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl four years earlier. In 1996, McNair remained a backup to Chris Chandler until starting a game on December 8 in Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.[13]. Kazemi then lay down beside him and fired a bullet into her head. "I don't want him to look at me and say, 'Oh, my mom is just kind of relaxed,'" she says. "He was the first one saying how proud he was of me and how proud my dad would be." In 2013, she sold their 13,000-square-foot house and moved to a smaller home. [23], On May 9, 2007, McNair was arrested in Nashville for drunk driving even though he was not driving at the time. Tyler believes it's the same thing his dad would have said. "Isaid we struggling now,we are not always gonna be down. And now, from what we have been able to discern, he doesnt play professionally, is a father, and prefers to keep his distance from the spotlight. It surprises her and forces her to ask the inevitable question: Who am I when my kids are grown and gone? But plans change. Read More: How Did Mike Tysons Daughter Die? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. But I'm not going to hell blaming somebody or having the hate and animosity in my heart. "He was a good dad. Mechelle says she could hear Steve's footsteps in the house sometimes. God got her through this, she says. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Because I hurt like everybody else. Tyler came home for about a month, but he wasn't really there. Mechelle is asked whether she thinks they'd be this close had McNair lived. They got married in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1997, and a year later, Tyler came along. Steven went as far as to addthat he and Steve Jr. have been closed out of their younger brothers lives and their fathers legacy, which Mechelle has since denied. [36][37] 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. McNair was known for his tenacity in playing through injuries and his dexterity as a scrambler or passer. 27 Jerseys at Sunday's Game", "Remembering 'Air McNair' NCAA Football", "Shooting Unveils Very Different Sides of Ex-NFL Quarterback Steve McNair", "McNair helped bring stability and success to vagabond franchise", "MVP Patrick Mahomes is now part of the legendary black quarterback fraternity", "MLB Amateur Draft Picks with the Name Matching: mcnair", "Devlin Hodges notches FCS mark with 14,584 career passing yards", "Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Oilers - December 8th, 1996 - Pro-Football-Reference.com", Notes: Favre backs McNair; Leinart hires Condon, Judge: Officer didn't have 'sufficient basis' to stop McNair for DUI, "NFL players from historically black colleges", "McNair visits Titans, doesn't have animosity over parting National Football League", McNair introduced as Ravens' new starting QB, "McNair's case to be heard today in Tenn", McNair could have playoff impact in Baltimore, "A Look Back at the Career of Steve McNair", "McNair Says Goodbye to Ravens, National Football League", "NFF Announces Storied 2020 College Football Hall of Fame Class Presented by ETT", "Former Titans' QB opens Nashville restaurant", "Demario Davis Remembers His Cousin, Steve McNair", "Police: Steve McNair death is apparent murder-suicide", "Woman's gun ID'd in Steve McNair death, but questions linger", "Sahel Kazemi and Steve McNair Final Texts Show Worries of Love and Money", "Tenn. police rule ex-QB McNair's death a homicide", "Autopsy planned for slain NFL star Steve McNair", "ESPN A Football Life The tragic passing of Steve McNair", "Police Release 911 Tapes in Steve McNair Case", "Coroner: Steve McNair a Victim of Murder-Suicide", "Police: McNair mistress knew gun seller for weeks", "The 2009 Murder of Steve McNair: Jenni Kazemi had known man who sold gun to her", "Statement From Titans Owner K.S. Times when McNair would take the boys out on his motorcycle and they didn't even need to talk. And on the gridiron,he was magic. But now one of them is leaving, and Mechelle is just trying not to lose it. 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. She tried to explain to the boys what had happened, the best she could, but Trent wanted to read about his father in the paper. He asked how somebody could do this to his daddy. He probably wouldn't have spent most of the summer dreading this moment, standing in front of a college dorm, trying not to cry. Nine years after Mechelle McNair's world caved in, her oldest son, Tyler, is going to NYU on an academic scholarship. EXCLUSIVE: Steve McNair: A mother's memories, Truck possibly connected to Hinds County jail escape found in Newton County, Woman charged after hitting, killing 19-year-old in Oxford, police say, South Jones band gets invited to 2026 St. Patricks fest in Ireland, Request a First Alert Weather School Visit, Advertising Non-Discrimination Certification. Steve McNair's No.9 jersey will be retired during a halftime ceremony during Sunday's home opener against the Indianapolis Colts. 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. Named to the Pro Bowl for the first time, McNair sat out the game due to a shoulder injury.[15]. The Steve Miller Band; Friday, July 7. Twitter wasn't a factor yet, but there were plenty of media outlets to feed off of the stunning story of a Tennessee football hero killed by 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi, a woman with whom he'd been having an affair. The Steve McNair Foundation, Inc. 209 10th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37218 The Steve McNair Foundation Teams With the NFL Youth Football Fund for $100,000 in Katrina Relief. Steve McNair | Biography, Statistics, Death, & Facts | Britannica She keeps McNair's football memorabilia in the basement, where Trent dribbles his basketball and Tyler practices his dance moves. Every season, Mechelle sends Trent's basketball schedule to Mu and to Zach Piller. She had plans. She wanted to be a doctor and wanted one child, but she didn't think much about a partner. [42] The bodies were discovered by McNair's friends Wayne Neely and Robert Gaddy, who called 911. "Honestly, the most I've ever felt like a child is this year," Tyler says. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. But it gets worse, she told Steves mom to pay $3,000 rent or get the hell out! Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair He added, "We believe now, at this time, that McNair was seated on the sofa and likely was asleep, and we believe that . By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Image via ABC. 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. ", McNair was known as one of the toughest players in the NFL. You're so strong,'" Mechelle says. 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. She had one job: to raise their sons. I can't wallow in it. He was human. George Gojkovich/Getty Images. SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE. If I'm playing football and I hear her, I kind of just ignore it. He was human. She had plans. Years ago, after Cartwright lost her own husband, Steve had told her to pack her bags and come live with them. He was known as one of the toughest men in football, playing through myriad injuries. 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. "Don't go," Tyler and Trent told him. I always have thought Steve got his toughness from his mother. He said he couldn't live without his daddy and wanted to kill himself. Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair (9) scrambles during the Titans' 30-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 19, 1999. . "I can deal with not having Steve here a lot more because I see him still every day in his boys.". Former Titans Chris Johnson and Vince Young took the boys to the locker room, just as their dad had done. She had hoped to go to Southern Miss. That drove Mechelle nuts, the waking up in the middle of the night. Wade Payne/AP Photo Live with Fuel; Saturday, August . NFL home Mechelle didn't particularly want to go to such a tiny school. Steve McNair was buried on a Saturday in his home state of Mississippi. In the winter of 2016, Tyler was one of the best basketball players at Brentwood Academy, a Christian school with a powerhouse basketball program. Ordered To Return Faith Evans' $164K Mercedes After Joyriding To Coachella, Michael Jackson's Mother Katherine Jackson Battles With Pop Star's Estate Over Secret Deal. Omissions? He was also the team's most effective rusher, tying George for the club lead with five scores. Times when McNair would take the boys out on his motorcycle and they didn't even need to talk. [46][44], Two days before their deaths, Kazemi was pulled over in a black 2007 Cadillac Escalade in Nashville. Piller likes to mess with Trent sometimes and tells him he could probably jump higher if he'd cut his long hair. She always worried where he was. 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. He felt comfortable in the country, near his siblings and his mother, Lucille. He says that McNair would do the same thing for him, and that what he does isn't much. After the death of her husband, she has not married nor has any relationship with other men. Mechelle knows life will change again soon, when Trent gets his driver's license. 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. "He said momma,we need the moneyand I said look,your education is more important," said Lucille. He ran his finger through the print and sounded out the words he knew. The pressure to be Steve McNair's son weighs heavily. In happy times, they belted out SWV songs in Mechelle's little, red, two-seater Mercedes, his tiny head bobbing to the music. Death of Mechelle's Husband, Steve McNair. "He would just come home and be, like, dead," Tyler says. Tyler came home for about a month, but he wasn't really there. When he's at school, he FaceTimes with her at least once a day, so it's almost as if she sees him more when he's in New York. She thinks about the next chapter in her life. Tyler was her road dog. [24] The quarterback's charge was dropped on July 10, 2007 when McNair's brother-in-law pleaded guilty to reckless driving.[25]. She didn't usually get as much . The house actually had been on the market before McNair died, but then the housing crisis hit, and it bounced on and off the listings for four years. She is dating someone, but meeting people has been a struggle. Nine years later, it's still hard for him to talk about McNair. In his senior year alone, he set a single-season FCS mark by totaling 5,799 yards and finished third in the balloting for the 1994 Heisman Trophy. In the days leading up to Steve McNair's death, he spent time at Nashville bars, went fishing and helped put his . He was found dead with the body of a young woman, Sahel Kazemi, in a rented house at 105 Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. He tried to do both at first, but soon it was too much. "He never cried, not once," Mrs. McNair. Aside from kid functions and dinners out, she lived the life of a homebody. He was a tenacious defender who helped his team win two state championships. "He was a good dad. "[People] always say, 'Oh, I admire you so much. But if I'm playing basketball, I kind of look up there and tell her to sshhhhh.". The vision of a 10-year-old boy holding a knife was like a cold bucket of water in the face. Ex-linemen tell stories about how she used to sit in the stands and yell at them to protect her husband. Steve McNair was born on Valentine's Day, and he died on the Fourth of July. She already had two men in her in life: Tyler, 19, and Trent, who just turned 14. 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. She stood up, the pain radiated from the right side of her skull, and she had to lie back down. Well, thats when the drama started between his wife and mom. 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 kissed Mechelle and told her he loved her, too. He doesn't believe anyone can play quarterback as well as his father did, so why even try? Mechelle is 45 now, and she does not look old enough to be dropping a son off at college. [47] 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. He split time between his home in Nashville and his farm in Collins, Mississippi. I don't. Trent is headstrong and stubborn and has a bit of a temper. How do you think she was feeling? This is so, so sad. Thus, all of Steves assets were left to her. "He didn't want to do anything. Mu was the one who took them to father-son breakfasts and NBA games. McNair was known as one of the toughest players in the NFL. 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. This was because of a sternum injury incurred in a 1714 win over the Kansas City Chiefs the previous game. She got on the elliptical machine, hoping some exercise would get rid of the headache. Yes, he made mistakes and was figuring out what to do outside football, but he was a good husband and father to all four of his children, as per his now-widow. Everyone wanted to know what Mechelle was feeling. The driver failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI; McNair was charged with DUI by consent. Then there was Mike Mu, a longtime family friend who used to run McNair's foundation. Ludacris, FloRida and Ashanti; Thursday, July 20. What's my passion?" They hug, and Tyler wants to tell her something before she goes back home to Tennessee. But this moment in front of the school is a good one. [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. Please read our Comment Policy before commenting. He opened his own restaurant in Nashville, which he named Gridiron9. He pictured his dad sitting in a pew, his leg sticking out in the aisle because the seat was too small for his giant body. When he headed back east after winter break, Trent refused to go to the airport because he didn't want to cry. Judy Winslow's character was just nine years old when Family Matters first started. Her children had never seen her like that. 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). "Nope," she says. In his senior season, McNair gained 6,281 combined yards rushing (904) and passing (5,377), along with 56 touchdowns. Mourners console Lucille McNair, the mother of Steve McNair, during the former NFL quarterback's funeral Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. [9], The Seattle Mariners drafted him in the 35th round of the 1991 MLB amateur draft.[10]. Sheoffers this advice to other young athletes who aspire to be Warriors on the field,like McNair. At first, Mechelle thought he should stick it out. We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. OLIVE, MS (Mississippi News Now) - He led the Tennessee Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV, went to three Pro Bowls, was All-Pro once, threw 174 touchdowns against 119 interceptions, had 31,304 yards passing, and had an impressive 60.1 career completion percentage. The enormity of his death cannot be overstated. According to the last reports, Mechelle never remarried but is dating, and she received a degree in nursing years ago. 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. Piller went to one of Trent's basketball games recently, and the younger McNair didn't disappoint. [51], McNair died without a last will and testament, and his assets were frozen pending probate of his estate. "He was the first person to come," Tyler says. Mechelle could handle algebra and first crushes, but sometimes, a boy needs a male figure in his life. George Gojkovich/Getty Images In 2005, he played in 14 games because of a back injury. I still love him. The Tragic Death of Steve McNair Still Causing - Sportscasting She is a spiritual woman who thanks God every morning for waking up and for allowing the rest of her family to wake up, too. In the winter of 2016, Tyler was one of the best basketball players at Brentwood Academy, a Christian school with a powerhouse basketball program. I'm just pushing forward. She doesn't want to be a hindrance to him. Tyler, who was 10, started crying. They carry pieces of Steve, from Tyler's mannerisms to the way Trent calls people "Buddy." He took care of us. I feel like I'm the weakest person sometimes. "I had it in my mindbut I didn't tell nobody. "I think it was important for [Lucille] because you see a part of your son you lost," Mechelle says. When it hit her, she fell to the floor, screaming. A "True Crimes with Aphrodite Jones" episode filmed in 2013 even pointed suspicion at her. [48], Titans owner Bud Adams released a statement regarding McNair:[49]. He was drafted third overall by the Titans (then known as the 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. I don't want to be here by myself. [28], McNair was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Broad Breasted White Turkey Life Expectancy, Articles W