He's going to kick the world's ass. He did annoying things, peeking at her test answers, sticking his giant feet on her book bag. He felt comfortable in the country, near his siblings and his mother, Lucille. "He was the first person to come," Tyler says. [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. Not to mention, he has played with two of the reputed football teams, Houston Titans and Baltimore Ravens, along with Lamar Jackson. 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. He pushed an air mattress beside Tyler's bed when his brother was home and slept there. He loved us. But now one of them is leaving, and Mechelle is just trying not to lose it. According to Piller, Trent hit five 3-pointers. I'm just pushing forward. VIDEO: Chelsea Handler Talks About Sex With 50 Cent & Dumping Him Because Of Ciara!!! So this week we sat down with Steve McNair's mother. 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. He was also the team's most effective rusher, tying George for the club lead with five scores. Mechelle McNair married to Steve McNair on 1997 and divorce on 2009. "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.". On the morning of July 4, 2009, Mechelle McNair woke up with a crushing headache. He had four brothers, Fred, Jason, Michael, and Tim. Brett Favre and Ray Lewis and Jay Cutler showed up for the funeral. Trent will put his hands on his hips and walk to the bench, and it reminds Piller of Steve heading to the huddle. The now 46-year-old widow continues to keep her partners memories alive through her work and hopes that his children do the same. Those assets included the million dollar mansion he had built for his mother, Lucille, to live in during her twilight years. McNair had dreams of his restaurant becoming a chain. Tyler was her road dog. He cleaned the fish when they got home that night, washed his truck and began to doze off on the couch. Copyright 2016 MSNewsNow. He announced his retirement following the 2007 season. Steve McNair's No.9 jersey will be retired during a halftime ceremony during Sunday's home opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Stephen "Steve" LaTreal McNair fathered his namesake and Steven O'Brian McNair through different relationships before he met, fell in love, and tied the knot with his only wife, Mechelle McNair, on June 21, 1997. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. For more, watch E:60's story, "Heir McNair," on Sunday at 9 a.m. on ESPN, or stream it on WatchESPN. The couple had first met at Alcorn State, a historically black university in Claiborne County, Mississippi. ". She says she protects her heart and her kids. Mechelle found strength and independence she never thought she had. He wore bandages for weeks. Pat Boone, a singer from the 1950s, eventually bought the home. He said he couldn't live without his daddy and wanted to kill himself. We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair's passing today. Nothing's going to change how I feel about my husband. 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). Similarly, Tyler James McNair was born in 1999 and is currently 20 years old. Brett Favre and Ray Lewis and Jay Cutler showed up for the funeral. Thus, after graduation, he committed to playing ball at Southern Mississippi before transferring to Pearl River Community College. But I'm not going to hell blaming somebody or having the hate and animosity in my heart. [24] The quarterback's charge was dropped on July 10, 2007 when McNair's brother-in-law pleaded guilty to reckless driving.[25]. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 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. Tyler and Trent immediately flipped into kid mode, running around with their cousins, sprawling out on sleeping bags at bedtime, swearing they'd stay up all night. God got her through this, she says. 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. When the police arrived, his corpse was on the couch with . She wanted to see him so she could help him. McNair was shot and killed on the Fourth of July by Sahel Kazemi, a 20-year-old girlfriend who then shot herself in the head. "She just had it made, you . "I don't want him to look at me and say, 'Oh, my mom is just kind of relaxed,'" she says. Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair. [26], In July 2012, McNair was named the 35th greatest quarterback of the NFL's post-merger era, according to Football Nation. "I know he's in his head," Steve would tell Mechelle. And them. He was found dead with the body of a young woman, Sahel Kazemi, in a rented house at 105 Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. [52] 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. In 2019, he claimed that neither he nor his elder brother was invited to the ceremony where his fathers jersey was retired. Sheoffers this advice to other young athletes who aspire to be Warriors on the field,like McNair. Aside from kid functions and dinners out, she lived the life of a homebody. In that contest, McNair returned from an injury and helped Alcorn State, trailing late in the final period, move deep into Tigers' territory. They met at Alcorn State, a historically black college in rural Claiborne County, Mississippi. Nearly 5,000 people mourned McNair at Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of Southern Miss. Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair As a junior, McNair led the Mount Olive Pirates to the state championship. It is a misdemeanor offense in Tennessee for an owner of a motor vehicle to knowingly allow an intoxicated person to drive the vehicle. But McNair was persistent. Mourners console Lucille McNair, the mother of Steve McNair, during the former NFL quarterback's funeral Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. Lucille had to rush him to the hospital. I've been there.". In his senior season, McNair gained 6,281 combined yards rushing (904) and passing (5,377), along with 56 touchdowns. 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. [20] By May of 2006, the Baltimore Sun reported that the Baltimore Ravens were interested in McNair. Time, if you handle it right, has a way of filtering out the bad memories but leaving the good. A "True Crimes with Aphrodite Jones" episode filmed in 2013 even pointed suspicion at her. The vision of a 10-year-old boy holding a knife was like a cold bucket of water in the face. [39][40][41] After killing him, Kazemi sat on the couch beside him and shot herself in the temple. He'd handled everything -- the bills, the taxes, the boys' baseball swings -- until it was just her. "I had it in my mindbut I didn't tell nobody. She doesn't want to be a hindrance to him. In 2011, a legal spat between Mechelle and Lucille over property in Mississippi played out in the local news media. "He was the first one saying how proud he was of me and how proud my dad would be. Image via ABC. When he headed back east after winter break, Trent refused to go to the airport because he didn't want to cry. "I mean, I'm here by myself. Michele is also claiming she cant find Steves Will. He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. Kazemi then lay down beside him and fired a bullet into her head. "I look at Tyler," she says, "and he knows exactly what his passion is. In the winter of 2016, Tyler was one of the best basketball players at Brentwood Academy, a Christian school with a powerhouse basketball program. [44][45] The 9mm gun used was found under Kazemi's body and later tests revealed "trace evidence of (gunpowder) residue on her left hand. The boxes are unpacked, the dorm room is clean, and there is nothing else to do but say goodbye. 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. [6][11], He was a member of the fraternity Omega Psi Phi, highlighting his allegiance by tattooing "Omega Man" on his arm. The vehicle was registered in the names of both McNair and Kazemi. She has thought about becoming a foster parent. The other two are from previous relationships. It was nearly 11 years ago when former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was found dead next to a young woman in a downtown Nashville condo. I do know that. [16] All charges related to the incident were later dropped.[6]. Piller downplays his involvement. Mechelle could handle algebra and first crushes, but sometimes, a boy needs a male figure in his life. Steve McNair was born on Valentine's Day, and he died on the Fourth of July. "Isaid we struggling now,we are not always gonna be down. So he would sacrifice his bodyto try and help his team and his teammates," said Lucille. "He was tough from day one.". Eventually, he grew on her. They hug, and Tyler wants to tell her something before she goes back home to Tennessee. What's my passion?" 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. He also did not play the full game in Week 3, however, the game was won by the Ravens, 2623. He was catching up with friends and hanging out at Waffle House at 2 in the morning. Maybe she could do that. It has been exactly ten years of Steve's demise. He told Mechelle that the alarm was going off at his restaurant, but she knows now that Kazemi was probably the one who called. 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 don't want him to look at me and say, 'Oh, my mom is just kind of relaxed,'" she says. McNair was selected to the Pro Bowl four times, and was an All-Pro and Co-MVP in 2003. "Steve was a good person," Mechelle's mother says. (McNair also has two older sons from previous relationships.) Dance was his release, a way of working through his emotions. Nashville Police Chief Ronal Serpas said, "The police department has concluded that Steve McNair was murdered by Sahel Kazemi and that, in turn, Sahel Kazemi killed herself with a single gunshot wound to her head.". 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. [33], His cousin is NFL linebacker Demario Davis. Piller likes to mess with Trent sometimes and tells him he could probably jump higher if he'd cut his long hair. "Lucille was a single mother,raising five rambunctious boys. I do know that. She keeps McNair's football memorabilia in the basement, where Trent dribbles his basketball and Tyler practices his dance moves. I got to dance all the time, I got to travel, and I got into the college I wanted to. She was so happy at the end of their talk, when he said she could attend the next employee meeting. In the worst times, she kept both of her little boys beside her in bed, where she could keep them close and safe. She doesn't want to go through any more pain. He was still trying to figure out his world outside of football. Also known as: Air McNair, Steve LaTreal McNair. Mechelle found strength and independence she never thought she had. They are all in our thoughts and prayers. [8], McNair was born in a small tin-roofed house in Mount Olive, Mississippi on February 14, 1973. According to his wife, Michele, the will that his agent claimed was drawn up has been lost. Just because she doesnt know how to manage money doesnt mean she can bully her dead husbands poor old mother! "He was the first one saying how proud he was of me and how proud my dad would be." It has been exactly ten years of Steve's demise. At the time, it was considered one of the biggest funerals in the state. I'm not going to do it.". She made faces at him to try to get him to stop. But this moment in front of the school is a good one. The Braves fashioned a record of 74, including a last-second victory in their rematch with Grambling. Mrs. McNair talked about the time Steve, not yet a teen, was raking leaves and burning them in the yard. 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. He kissed Mechelle and told her he loved her, too. "I'll be back in a little while," he said. Tyler came home for about a month, but he wasn't really there. [12] McNair did not see his first action until the last two series of the fourth quarter in a November game versus the Cleveland Browns. She was so happy at the end of their talk, when he said she could attend the next employee meeting. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. He was 36 years old. [9] An All-State selection (offense), McNair was named an All-American by Super Prep magazine (defense). He'd say, 'I just need some rest.'" After the death of her husband, she has not married nor has any relationship with other men. Nothing's going to change how I feel about my husband. Mechelle knows life will change again soon, when Trent gets his driver's license. After all, her sons are almost grown-up. McNair played in all sixteen games in 2000 but did not start the first of two annual games against the Steelers. But this moment in front of the school is a good one. She already had two men in her in life: Tyler, 19, and Trent, who just turned 14. "Don't go," Tyler and Trent told him. 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. Steelers coach Bill Cowher said that he called a timeout before the winning kick took place. [51], McNair died without a last will and testament, and his assets were frozen pending probate of his estate. According to his wife, Michele, the will that his agent claimed was drawn up has been lost. McNair missed nine more games during the rest of the season, due primarily to injury, only starting in six games. Highlights from his career were played throughout each day and fans were able to sign books that were later given to the McNair family. Tyler was her road dog. He was quiet until you knew him, and he waited a while to talk to her. 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. Did I know about some other people and some other things? She never imagined she'd leave Mississippi after college to move to Houston with a man who had just been selected at No. Piller went to one of Trent's basketball games recently, and the younger McNair didn't disappoint. 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. It's his way of being around his brother still. After killing Steve, Kazemi killed herself, and her body was also laying down on the floor. In the divisional playoff round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, McNair threw for a career postseason high 338 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions, while rushing for 29 yards and another score on the ground. "I can't say that I didn't have my bitter moments. "He would just come home and be, like, dead," Tyler says. 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. 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. In the worst times, she kept both of her little boys beside her in bed, where she could keep them close and safe. In his last days, McNair seemed overwhelmed at times, almost as if he was at a crossroads, Mechelle says. [6], McNair appeared in the playoffs four times with the Titans, including their run to Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000, and made his final playoff appearance in 2006 with the Ravens. He didn't win the Heisman,but was taken 3rd in the NFL draft,heading to Houston to become an Oiler,and eventually,a Tennessee Titan. Hell graduate high school in 2022, whereas his elder brother will graduate college in 2021. Mechelle sits in the stands and yells at him to "keep your face straight." But her sons were terrified and confused. Here was an NFL quarterback one season into retirement, a former co-MVP and a Super Bowl participant, murdered. It surprises her and forces her to ask the inevitable question: Who am I when my kids are grown and gone? Kazemi then lay down beside him and fired a bullet into her head. Tyler and Trent immediately flipped into kid mode, running around with their cousins, sprawling out on sleeping bags at bedtime, swearing they'd stay up all night. He felt pressure from fans, students and coaches to stay on the basketball team. Everyone wanted to know what Mechelle was feeling. Mechelle is 45 now, and she does not look old enough to be dropping a son off at college. So, it is safe to say that she is currently a single woman. Mechelle grabbed him and told him to stop. He ran to the kitchen and got a knife. In happy times, they belted out SWV songs in Mechelle's little, red, two-seater Mercedes, his tiny head bobbing to the music. Conspiracy theorists flooded the internet and airwaves. At first, Mechelle thought he should stick it out. I don't. There were good times, too. 3 in the NFL draft. From that moment on, she could not let her children see her break down. But he could be there for McNair's boys. Tyler believes it's the same thing his dad would have said. Just 24 hours earlier, McNair had taken his sons fishing. More on Steve McNair Updates? In 1992, McNair threw 3,541 yards and 29 touchdowns, and ran in for 10 more scores. In his stead entered Neil O'Donnell, a veteran who had guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl four years earlier. "They ain't got nothing,he would say. He had four brothers, Fred, Jason, Michael, and Tim. Peep the video below. McNair returned against the St. Louis Rams, and with McNair starting, Tennessee won seven of its last nine games, good for a record of 133 and second place in the AFC Central. McNair threw for 3,228 yards and 15 touchdowns in '98, and he led the Titans to the Super Bowl a year later. He loved us. Times when the family would pair up in teams and wrestle, Mechelle and Tyler on one side; Trent and Steve on the other. Offensive linemen spend their careers protecting the quarterback, and Piller couldn't. She wanted to see him so she could help him. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. McNair said he loved them. As for Steven OBryant McNair, who was 15 at the time of Steve Sr.s death, he still resides in Mississippi. In a statement to the AP, Ozzie Newsome, executive vice president and general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, stated:[39][50]. By The Associated Press PUBLISHED: July 11, 2009 at 2:24 p . She thinks he shows his emotions too much. "[People] always say, 'Oh, I admire you so much. St. Louis scored the first 16 points as McNair struggled . It was just like 2009. She had one job: to raise their sons. Tyler tells her everything, even the stuff that can get him grounded. As they enter new stages of their lives, they wonder what their father would think. But authorities wouldn't. But plans change. Their normal. 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. Trent, who was 5, rested his head on his mother's lap during the service. 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. He never forced his sons to play sports. The boys are so close that Trent sleeps in Tyler's bed when he's at college. Between the 2002 and 2003 seasons, McNair was arrested for DUI and illegal gun possession (in May 2003). Eddie George Then & Now . It's his way of being around his brother still. As they enter new stages of their lives, they wonder what their father would think. The full schedule includes: Advertisement. "[People] always say, 'Oh, I admire you so much. "I didn't know about her at all," Mechelle says. He led the Titans to the franchises first Super Bowl berth in 2000. As questions swirled around the deaths of quarterback Steve McNair and his much-younger mistress, the mother of slain football star said Monday she doesn't want to know . McNair said he loved them. Piller, a former guard for the Titans, was one of McNair's pallbearers. Nine years after Mechelle McNair's world caved in, her oldest son, Tyler, is going to NYU on an academic scholarship. Steve McNair was buried on a Saturday in his home state of Mississippi. Every season, Mechelle sends Trent's basketball schedule to Mu and to Zach Piller. The pressure to be Steve McNair's son weighs heavily. There was one problem: His heart wasn't in it anymore, and he wanted to dance instead. McNair left a large estate behind that's in probate in both Tennessee and Mississippi. But it gets worse, she told Steve's mom to pay $3,000 rent or get the hell out! "I think that [Trent] would be attached to his dad.". "He was the first person to come," Tyler says. Christmas break is over, and the house is quiet. 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. His early death became fodder for tabloids: the married McNair was found dead in a condominium alongside a woman he had been dating whom police believed killed him and then herself. Jul 06, 2009 at 12:08 pm. "Mama," Mechelle asked, "do you think it's true?". McNair was known as one of the toughest players in the NFL. The man who had taken epidurals and basically crawled around in pain six days a week but somehow played football on Sundays couldn't be gone. In his last days, McNair seemed overwhelmed at times, almost as if he was at a crossroads, Mechelle says. 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. "You're going to have people who say, 'Oh, she knew.' 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. When his father passed away, Steve McNair Jr. was a star wide receiver at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He added, "We believe now, at this time, that McNair was seated on the sofa and likely was asleep, and we believe that . But her sons were terrified and confused. Mechelle could handle algebra and first crushes, but sometimes, a boy needs a male figure in his life. He tried to do both at first, but soon it was too much. Yes. 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. Former Titans Chris Johnson and Vince Young took the boys to the locker room, just as their dad had done. Dont miss to subscribe to our new feeds, kindly fill the form below. "She's very vocal," Trent says. Thank you for subscribing! She never played. 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. Tyler believes it's the same thing his dad would have said. Initially, she did not believe her husband was dead. George Clark/Hattiesburg American POOL/Getty Images. Times when McNair would take the boys out on his motorcycle and they didn't even need to talk. I'm used to it by now. But now one of them is leaving, and Mechelle is just trying not to lose it. When news of his death flashed on the TV screen, Cartwright rushed through the house to Mechelle's room.