Unfortunately, she has been very tight-lipped concerning her professional life. He made his first playoff start as a Raven against the Colts on January 13, 2007. There was one problem: His heart wasn't in it anymore, and he wanted to dance instead. [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. [20], The 2006 season saw McNair start each game for the Ravens, missing only portions of two games. "I know what he's thinking. She doesn't want to go through any more pain. The judge agreed, and each of the four children received $500,000. Mechelle is asked whether she thinks they'd be this close had McNair lived. The enormity of his death cannot be overstated. I'm not going to do it." But this moment in front of the school is a good one. Corrections? As a matter of fact, Steve shares two children named Steve LaTreal McNair Jr. and Steven O' Brian McNair with two other women whose names are not disclosed. 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. Mechelle knows life will change again soon, when Trent gets his driver's license. His blood alcohol was above 0.10, and a 9-mm handgun was sitting in the front of the car. According to Piller, Trent hit five 3-pointers. To Mechelle, he was sort of a gentle giant, romantic enough to hide an engagement ring in a piece of strawberry cake, country enough to skin a deer and cook it up for his teammates. "I don't want him to look at me and say, 'Oh, my mom is just kind of relaxed,'" she says. "Mama," Mechelle asked, "do you think it's true?". Steve McNair's Widow, Children Given $500,000 Each - NewsOne Piller, a former guard for the Titans, was one of McNair's pallbearers. 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. They got married in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1997, and a year later, Tyler came along. After all, her sons are almost grown-up. Former Titans Chris Johnson and Vince Young took the boys to the locker room, just as their dad had done. He felt comfortable in the country, near his siblings and his mother, Lucille. He announced his retirement following the 2007 season. The now 46-year-old widow continues to keep her partners memories alive through her work and hopes that his children do the same. 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. How do you think she was feeling? McNair said he loved them. Mechelle says she could hear Steve's footsteps in the house sometimes. Nine years later, it's still hard for him to talk about McNair. Mechelle is 45 now, and she does not look old enough to be dropping a son off at college. A "True Crimes with Aphrodite Jones" episode filmed in 2013 even pointed suspicion at her. "Most of the time I really don't hear it that much, but when I do, it's a little bit embarrassing. I'm used to it by now. Mechelle sits in the stands and yells at him to "keep your face straight." "I know he's in his head," Steve would tell Mechelle. "When they were saying hand him the Heisman,I was likewhat is the Heisman and they were giving me different people names who had won the Heisman.". Time, if you handle it right, has a way of filtering out the bad memories but leaving the good. [39][40][41] After killing him, Kazemi sat on the couch beside him and shot herself in the temple. She wanted to see him so she could help him. They are best friends. The family Tennessee Titans legend Steve McNair left behind - ESPN In 2019, he claimed that neither he nor his elder brother was invited to the ceremony where his fathers jersey was retired. He kissed Mechelle and told her he loved her, too. And I don't feel like that's how God wants us to be." She knew how much potential he had. Oldest son Fred McNair was the first star to emerge. Steve McNair's mom 'not mad' over son's brutal death, calls it 'devil's He told them to find something they loved and do it well. He didn't just turn out all right. Her husband would have done things differently. Ludacris, FloRida and Ashanti; Thursday, July 20. More on Steve McNair (She was never a suspect). 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. Mechelle McNair filed the lawsuit last week against Vincent Hill, a cameraman known as John Doe, Crime Watch Daily, and one of the show's employees, Andrew Isom. How was she feeling? He will want to spend more time with his friends, not his mom. He ran his finger through the print and sounded out the words he knew. Former Titans Chris Johnson and Vince Young took the boys to the locker room, just as their dad had done. "I don't want to be alone," she says. He was quiet until you knew him, and he waited a while to talk to her. Michele is also claiming she cant find Steves Will. There were many people at McNair's funeral who vowed to be there for Tyler and Trent. He'd handled everything -- the bills, the taxes, the boys' baseball swings -- until it was just her. Everyone changed. "He was a good dad. 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. It had been a long time since they'd been there. Trent, who was 5, rested his head on his mother's lap during the service. 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. When news of his death flashed on the TV screen, Cartwright rushed through the house to Mechelle's room. She is dating someone, but meeting people has been a struggle. McNair missed the 2004 season's fourth game with a bruised sternum, an injury suffered the previous week against Jacksonville,[18] and played in only five more games that season. Maybe she could do that. But after Steve's death, the most intimate details of her life were fodder for public consumption. The driver failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI; McNair was charged with DUI by consent. He tried to do both at first, but soon it was too much. The boys call Mu "Uncle Mike." The team officially changed its name from Oilers to Titans for the 1999 season as they debuted a new stadium, Adelphia Coliseum. He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. He was found dead with the body of a young woman, Sahel Kazemi, in a rented house at 105 Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. The fact that he was the quarterback everyone on campus was talking about held no currency with Mechelle. I do know that. Mechelle knows life will change again soon, when Trent gets his driver's license. The funeral program included memories from McNair's mother, his wife . 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. "I look at Tyler," she says, "and he knows exactly what his passion is. Though McNair was an NFL quarterback, he never wanted to force football or sports on his children. Somehow, he seared his hands. She is thankful for that last day McNair had with the boys and for that night when they argued and made up. Times when the family would pair up in teams and wrestle, Mechelle and Tyler on one side; Trent and Steve on the other. Mechelle sits in the stands and yells at him to "keep your face straight." Steve turned down an opportunity out of high school to be drafted into baseball. George Clark/Hattiesburg American POOL/Getty Images. She was slow to trust after her husband's death and never remarried. Aside from kid functions and dinners out, she lived the life of a homebody. Copyright 2021, All Right Reserved MARRIEDCELEB. A handful of them delivered. Trent shows flashes of great talent at quarterback, but he won't play the position. When he headed back east after winter break, Trent refused to go to the airport because he didn't want to cry. [34], 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. Tyler is at New York University on an academic scholarship for a degree in biology while pursuing a career in the entertainment industry as a dancer. In 2002, Tennessee finished the regular season 115 and reached the playoffs. The old home had too many memories. "He said, 'but they need me and I'm not going to let them down.' She would not lose it in front of them. She knew how much potential he had. "When I think about it, I don't want to be old and not have anybody to spend my last days with. [7] McNair was the first AfricanAmerican quarterback to win AP NFL MVP and remains, along with Cam Newton, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson, only one of four to win the award. [53], Dyson was unable to break the plane of the goal line, "Titans to Retire Steve McNair's No. The tabloids fed off the story and ran photos of McNair vacationing with the young waitress and texts they sent to each other in their final hours. "They were slipping and playing football on the peewee team. He didn't want to watch TV, didn't want to eat anything. He was 36 when he died, and he had just opened Gridiron9, a catfish-and-burger joint in north Nashville. He went on to commit to play wide receiver at Southern Miss before playing at Pearl River Community College. The investigation later revealed that they were in a romantic relationship for over six months, and the two also texted each other, saying love you and love you too before the incident happened. But,according to his mother,that was just a fraction of who Steve McNair was. Piller likes to mess with Trent sometimes and tells him he could probably jump higher if he'd cut his long hair. "I'll be back in a little while," he said. At that point, Mechelle had a boyfriend and was only focused on pursuing a career in the medical field as a doctor. Brett Favre and Ray Lewis and Jay Cutler showed up for the funeral. McNair came in and threw a touchdown to Erron Kinney; a missed Steelers field goal attempt resulted in the Titans winning 2320. George Gojkovich/Getty Images Naked Pic of Serena Williams Goes Viral! [27], McNair's number was retired by the Titans during a halftime ceremony against the Indianapolis Colts on September 15, 2019. He's going to kick the world's ass. Apart from her wealth, her late husband, Steve's net worth was around $26 Million at the time of his death. Thus, all of Steve's assets were left to her. NFL home It would not go away. 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. Where Are Steve McNair's Wife and Kids Now? - The Cinemaholic [8], McNair was born in a small tin-roofed house in Mount Olive, Mississippi on February 14, 1973. "He was a good dad. Yes. Two of their children are sons named Trenton John McNair, who was born in 2004, and his age is 15 years old as of 2019. "What's my purpose? When a parent dies young and leaves behind children, people make promises. But he could be there for McNair's boys. On June 8, McNair flew to Baltimore, passed a physical and was announced as the newest member of the Ravens. I've gotta keep going.". He was quiet until you knew him, and he waited a while to talk to her. We care about your data. "You're going to have people who say, 'Oh, she knew.' "[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. Deadly Recall: Air McNair is an episode that examines the life, slaying, and aftermath of renowned NFL quarterback Stephen McNair, who died at the age of 36 and left behind a shocked family and fanbase. God got her through this, she says. He made at least $90 million in salary over his 13-year career with the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and. But plans change. Times when McNair would take the boys out on his motorcycle and they didn't even need to talk. 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. The couple had first met at Alcorn State, a historically black university in Claiborne County, Mississippi. Before she met McNair, Mechelle never thought she would get married. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). By all accounts, although Steve was usually exhausted when at home due to his practice and games, things were good for the McNair family, especially after he retired in 2008. The tabloids fed off the story and ran photos of McNair vacationing with the young waitress and texts they sent to each other in their final hours. McNair holds an Oilers jersey with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and McNair's mother, Lucille, April 22, 1995 in New York. Piller likes to mess with Trent sometimes and tells him he could probably jump higher if he'd cut his long hair. [28], McNair was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020. He told Mechelle that the alarm was going off at his restaurant, but she knows now that Kazemi was probably the one who called. ". The Tragic Death of Steve McNair Still Causing - Sportscasting He felt pressure from fans, students and coaches to stay on the basketball team. I still love him. Tyler tells her everything, even the stuff that can get him grounded. When it hit her, she fell to the floor, screaming. She would wonder, later, about signs. He probably wouldn't have spent most of the summer dreading this moment, standing in front of a college dorm, trying not to cry. Tyler believes it's the same thing his dad would have said. MT. ", Tyler, right, and Trent served as honorary 12th Titans in a November game against the Baltimore Ravens. Fred and Timboth played football, and younger brother Steve was magic,in both footballand baseball. McNair's wife Michele cut his mother out of her grandchildren's life. This is so, so sad. "He would just come home and be, like, dead," Tyler says. just standing in the pocket," said Lucille. I don't want to be here by myself. NEW YORK (CBS) "Im gonna have all of u soon," Sahel Kazemi texted Steve McNair, her married lover and former NFL star,. [35] Kazemi and McNair had been previously involved with each other romantically. Stephen Steve LaTreal McNair fathered his namesake and Steven OBrian McNair through different relationships before he met, fell in love, and tied the knot with his only wife, Mechelle McNair, on June 21, 1997. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. They are all in our thoughts and prayers. She doesn't want to be a hindrance to him. He loved us. Mourners console Lucille McNair, the mother of Steve McNair, during the former NFL quarterback's funeral Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. Then, despite a leg injury, he tucked the ball under his arm and dove into the end zone for the winning touchdown. 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. [48], Titans owner Bud Adams released a statement regarding McNair:[49]. On the morning of July 4, 2009, Mechelle McNair woke up with a crushing headache. Trent will put his hands on his hips and walk to the bench, and it reminds Piller of Steve heading to the huddle. He split his time between a farm in Mississippi and Nashville, Tennessee. She is thankful for that last day McNair had with the boys and for that night when they argued and made up. Lucille saidpeople will never know how kind and gentle her son was,but she says hislegacy lives on through his four boys and his family. When you walk into Lucille McNair's memory room,it's hard not be overwhelmed with the accomplishments of her sons, especially the oneknown as Steve "Air" McNair; alegacy she says beganwhen Steve was a young boy,following in the footsteps of his older brother Fred. Further, he was buried at Griffith Cemetery in Prentiss, Mississippi, and over 5000 people attended his funeral. He'd handled everything -- the bills, the taxes, the boys' baseball swings -- until it was just her. Offensive linemen spend their careers protecting the quarterback, and Piller couldn't. Mechelle found strength and independence she never thought she had. The last full conversation he had with Mechelle centered on the restaurant's nightly receipts constantly being off and her desire to help. When it hit her, she fell to the floor, screaming. He made a mistake. Hell graduate high school in 2022, whereas his elder brother will graduate college in 2021. Sometimes, when she's rushing to a game or going to Bible study, it hits her -- the absence of tears and drama, the return to normal. He was human. She was so happy at the end of their talk, when he said she could attend the next employee meeting. "He was the first person to come," Tyler says. 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. 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. "I mean, I'm here by myself. As they enter new stages of their lives, they wonder what their father would think. He'd say, 'I just need some rest.'". Also known as: Air McNair, Steve LaTreal McNair. "Nope," she says. Trent is headstrong and stubborn and has a bit of a temper. Mechelle is asked whether she thinks they'd be this close had McNair lived. The estate of the former pro, who played 11 seasons with the Tennessee Titans and two with the. Courtesy Mechelle McNair One of the popular celebrity wives, Mechelle McNair, is best-known as the wife of late Steve McNair. She had hoped to go to Southern Miss. Nearly 5,000 people mourned McNair at Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of Southern Miss. He sees flashes of his friend, and it helps him stay close to him. Editor's note: Sports Illustrated is releasing a podcast examining the death of former Titans quarterback . Eventually, there will be more goodbyes. She never worried about that with Tyler, but for some reason, she thinks about it now that it's just her and Trent. Why Steve McNair's Legacy Won't Be Remembered the Way It Should After killing Steve, Kazemi killed herself, and her body was also laying down on the floor. He made at least $90 million in salary over his 13-year career with the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and. Here was an NFL quarterback one season into retirement, a former co-MVP and a Super Bowl participant, murdered. According to Piller, Trent hit five 3-pointers. I don't. "He didn't want to do anything. The fact that he was the quarterback everyone on campus was talking about held no currency with Mechelle. He doesn't believe anyone can play quarterback as well as his father did, so why even try? 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. "And I knew then. He never forced his sons to play sports. "[People] always say, 'Oh, I admire you so much. The last full conversation he had with Mechelle centered on the restaurant's nightly receipts constantly being off and her desire to help. He took care of us. In the days leading up to Steve McNair's death, he spent time at Nashville bars, went fishing and helped put his . Thus, after graduation, he committed to playing ball at Southern Mississippi before transferring to Pearl River Community College. That drove Mechelle nuts, the waking up in the middle of the night. But it gets worse, she told Steve's mom to pay $3,000 rent or get the hell out! Every season, Mechelle sends Trent's basketball schedule to Mu and to Zach Piller. Mechelle could handle algebra and first crushes, but sometimes, a boy needs a male figure in his life. Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair Early in the season, McNair was diagnosed with an inflamed disk following the Titans' 3635 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and needed surgery. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. She loves taking care of people. ", Though McNair was an NFL quarterback, he never wanted to force football or sports on his children. Nine years after Mechelle McNair's world caved in, her oldest son, Tyler, is going to NYU on an academic scholarship. It surprises her and forces her to ask the inevitable question: Who am I when my kids are grown and gone? McNair was born in a small tin-roofed house in Mount Olive, Mississippi on February 14, 1973. Pat Boone, a singer from the 1950s, eventually bought the home. Steve McNair death: Timeline of how it happened - The Tennessean The boys are so close that Trent sleeps in Tyler's bed when he's at college. But McNair was persistent. "They never complained about other children having this and they couldn't have that;they never complained.". Sometimes on the Fourth of July, he picked up the kids and bought fireworks and did anything that took their minds off the anniversary. From that moment on, she could not let her children see her break down. Sheoffers this advice to other young athletes who aspire to be Warriors on the field,like McNair. It was just like 2009. So instead,he headed to Alcorn State University,following his brothers Fredand Tim. Mechelle had just found out. She loves taking care of people. Lucille says Steve gave freely of his time,his talents and his money. A handful of them delivered. She says she protects her heart and her kids. Steelers coach Bill Cowher said that he called a timeout before the winning kick took place. 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. "I can deal with not having Steve here a lot more because I see him still every day in his boys." Following Steves tragic passing, save for a public statement expressing her gratitude for the love she and her family were receiving, Mechelle refused to give interviews or speak about the matter. Tyler came home for about a month, but he wasn't really there. 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. In a statement to the AP, Ozzie Newsome, executive vice president and general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, stated:[39][50]. I do know that. In 2011, a legal spat between Mechelle and Lucille over property in Mississippi played out in the local news media. Not only did he always keep them safe and well-provided for, but he was also present when needed. "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."