[43] The Nashville police declared McNair's death a murder-suicide, with Kazemi as the perpetrator and McNair as the victim. I'm not going to do it." [42] The bodies were discovered by McNair's friends Wayne Neely and Robert Gaddy, who called 911. Yes. [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. Late in the season, he also appeared briefly against the Detroit Lions and New York Jets. Her mother, Melzena Cartwright, saw the news on TV. In 2011, a legal spat between Mechelle and Lucille over property in Mississippi played out in the local news media. NFL home He will want to spend more time with his friends, not his mom. "I loved him. He went on to commit to play wide receiver at Southern Miss before playing at Pearl River Community College. Sahel Kazemi's nephew reveals she expected Steve McNair to divorce wife It's the most I've felt like a regular person, like nothing has happened." Sahel Kazemi Wiki: The Mistress Who Shot Steve McNair to Death She is thankful for that last day McNair had with the boys and for that night when they argued and made up. Before she met McNair, Mechelle never thought she would get married. However, McNair later bailed Kazemi out of jail. When it hit her, she fell to the floor, screaming. But McNair was persistent. It was a good day for two little boys who saw their dad as a superhero. So he would sacrifice his bodyto try and help his team and his teammates," said Lucille. Tyler, who is majoring in biology at NYU while continuing to pursue his dancing dreams, forged a path so different from his father's. That same show aired as a rerun last week, on the night of the Super Bowl. He's going to kick the world's ass. The well-known footballer, Steve, died on 4 July 2009 at the age of 46. He made his first playoff start as a Raven against the Colts on January 13, 2007. Every season, Mechelle sends Trent's basketball schedule to Mu and to Zach Piller. MT. She doesn't want to go through any more pain. [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. Courtesy Mechelle McNair. What's my passion?" Steve McNair was buried on a Saturday in his home state of Mississippi. McNair finished the 2003 season as the league leader in passer rating and became the youngest player in NFL history to pass for 20,000 yards and run for 3,000 yards. When it hit her, she fell to the floor, screaming. 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 paved the way and now it's time for you to move forward.". The well-known footballer, Steve, died on 4 July 2009 at the age of 46. He wore bandages for weeks. Well, Steve was a prominent American football player who played as a quarterback in the NFL (National Football League) for Baltimore Ravens before retirement. "I know what he's thinking. He'd handled everything -- the bills, the taxes, the boys' baseball swings -- until it was just her. 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. "Don't go," Tyler and Trent told him. 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. "They were slipping and playing football on the peewee team. Sahel Kazemi allegedly shot and killed Steve McNair, then herself. In happy times, they belted out SWV songs in Mechelle's little, red, two-seater Mercedes, his tiny head bobbing to the music. E:60's John Minton III and Ryan Smith contributed to this report. But he could be there for McNair's boys. Trent, who was 5, rested his head on his mother's. McNair's wife Michele cut his mother out of her grandchildren's life. When the police arrived, his corpse was on the couch with multiple wounds of the gunshot, including one to the head. 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. McNair's first season as the Oilers' starter in 1997 (the team's first year in Tennessee) resulted in an 88 record for the team, which played its home games at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. From that moment on, she could not let her children see her break down. She had plans. Brett Favre and Ray Lewis and Jay Cutler showed up for the funeral. But she put off doing the paperwork, and Alcorn was the school that offered her a scholarship. Trent shows flashes of great talent at quarterback, but he won't play the position. Tyler was her road dog. She never worried about that with Tyler, but for some reason, she thinks about it now that it's just her and Trent. God got her through this, she says. He could see McNair smiling and telling his boy, "Good job, Buddy." Thus, all of Steve's assets were left to her. The Steve Miller Band; Friday, July 7. SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE. Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair (9) scrambles during the Titans' 30-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 19, 1999. . Highlights from his career were played throughout each day and fans were able to sign books that were later given to the McNair family. They met at Alcorn State, a historically black college in rural Claiborne County, Mississippi. He kissed Mechelle and told her he loved her, too. Titans Draft Flashback: Steve McNair - Tennessee Titans 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 do you think she was feeling? The boxes are unpacked, the dorm room is clean, and there is nothing else to do but say goodbye. "They never complained about other children having this and they couldn't have that;they never complained.". For many, the pain still lingers and will never go away. Just because she doesnt know how to manage money doesnt mean she can bully her dead husbands poor old mother! According to Piller, Trent hit five 3-pointers. 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. McNair was known for his tenacity in playing through injuries and his dexterity as a scrambler or passer. In the worst times, she kept both of her little boys beside her in bed, where she could keep them close and safe. 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. Because I hurt like everybody else. He asked how somebody could do this to his daddy. "I feel like I'm just living. Not only did he always keep them safe and well-provided for, but he was also present when needed. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. What happened to Steve McNair? Jenni Kazemi life unraveled, cop says Copyright 2016 MSNewsNow. It has been exactly ten years of Steve's demise. Widow of Titans QB Steve McNair Anticipating Another - Tennessee Titans The transition from football player to businessman was not smooth. Tyler, who is majoring in biology at NYU while continuing to pursue his dancing dreams, forged a path so different from his father's. His good friend Zach Piller, right, protected him on the field and served as one of his pallbearers. McNair said he loved them. The driver failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI; McNair was charged with DUI by consent. From that moment on, she could not let her children see her break down. I'm just pushing forward. He had four brothers, Fred, Jason, Michael, and Tim. It would not go away. Everyone wanted to know what Mechelle was feeling. After killing Steve, Kazemi killed herself, and her body was also laying down on the floor. The judge agreed, and each of the four children received $500,000. McNair played with the Titans franchise for 11 seasons before finishing his career with the Baltimore Ravens (200608). "At the end of the day, that's my husband," she says. "[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. But his phone kept ringing. When a parent dies young and leaves behind children, people make promises. Tyler was her road dog. She had hoped to go to Southern Miss. As for Steven OBryant McNair, who was 15 at the time of Steve Sr.s death, he still resides in Mississippi. Initially, she did not believe her husband was dead. The team officially changed its name from Oilers to Titans for the 1999 season as they debuted a new stadium, Adelphia Coliseum. He was found dead with the body of a young woman, Sahel Kazemi, in a rented house at 105 Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. She would lean on her friends, who dropped everything to be with her in Nashville, or cry to her aunts and uncles. 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. McNair's widow, his sons and other family members and friends will return to Nissan Stadium for the special day. [44] Kazemi had a worsening financial situation and also suspected that McNair was in another extramarital relationship. Steve McNair's Widow, Children Given $500,000 Each - NewsOne Sahel Kazemi: A study in the woman police say killed Steve McNair a It had been a long time since they'd been there. 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. McNair's death shocked the country on the Fourth of July in 2009. #FlexExcellence: The Most Extravagant Prom Flexes Of 2023, #FlexExcellence: Tammy Rivera, Monica, Dr. Heavenly & Erica Dixon Send Their Celebrity Seeds Off To Prom In Style, Your Weekly Helping Of Tidday Meats & Treats On The Gram, Picture Perfect Poster Girl: Taylour Paige Stars As "Boogie's" Leading Lady, Kylie Jenner Klaims Its A Misconception That Shes Had So Much Surgery On Her Face, Kauses Kosmetic Kommotion Akross Internet, Riding Dirty: Stevie J. Mechelle found strength and independence she never thought she had. McNair was selected with the third pick in the 1995 NFL draft by the Houston Oilerswho became the Tennessee Titans in 1999. She once took him on a girlfriends-only trip to the Bahamas, and if anyone took issue with it, well, tough. For more, watch E:60's story, "Heir McNair," on Sunday at 9 a.m. on ESPN, or stream it on WatchESPN. 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). "He would just come home and be, like, dead," Tyler says. Mechelle is 45 now, and she does not look old enough to be dropping a son off at college. There were good times, too. He tried to do both at first, but soon it was too much. 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. In the winter of 2016, Tyler was one of the best basketball players at Brentwood Academy, a Christian school with a powerhouse basketball program. Every season, Mechelle sends Trent's basketball schedule to Mu and to Zach Piller. "They were wrestling all the time,tearing thebed down and fixing the bed back up. 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. Steve McNair's Widow Kicks His Mother out Her OWN House! - Z 107.9 He was quiet until you knew him, and he waited a while to talk to her. "At the end of the day, that's my husband," she says. Eventually, there will be more goodbyes. Kazemi then lay down beside him and fired a bullet into her head. In the days leading up to Steve McNair's death, he spent time at Nashville bars, went fishing and helped put his . 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. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM. Miss. Remembers Steve McNair at Funeral - CBS News 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. When he headed back east after winter break, Trent refused to go to the airport because he didn't want to cry. He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. "He was a good dad. [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. His life was cut short on July 4, 2009, but his legacy lives onin family and those who knew him best. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt) . Steve McNair was buried on a Saturday in his home state of Mississippi. That was meand God.". She would wonder, later, about signs. 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. McNair's success in the NFL netted him a fortune. She and her sons settled into a house surrounded by trees and the occasional deer that plops down in the middle of the yard. She says she protects her heart and her kids. The pressure to be Steve McNair's son weighs heavily. And on the gridiron,he was magic. They carry pieces of Steve, from Tyler's mannerisms to the way Trent calls people "Buddy." Bossip Comment Policy How 'Family Matters' Made One of Its Biggest Characters Disappear "I don't want to be alone," she says. In 2019, he claimed that neither he nor his elder brother was invited to the ceremony where his fathers jersey was retired. In 1996, McNair remained a backup to Chris Chandler until starting a game on December 8 in Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.[13]. Steve McNair's Death Left Behind a Family Who Now Makes Him Proud When news of his death flashed on the TV screen, Cartwright rushed through the house to Mechelle's room. (She was never a suspect). 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. Nothing's going to change how I feel about my husband. But after Steve's death, the most intimate details of her life were fodder for public consumption. Mrs. McNair talked about the time Steve, not yet a teen, was raking leaves and burning them in the yard. In 2005, he played in 14 games because of a back injury. In the week 14 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, McNair threw the longest regular-season touchdown pass in the Ravens' history, an 89-yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton. Eventually, there will be more goodbyes. After the 2005 season, McNair was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, with whom he played for two seasons before retiring. Dont miss to subscribe to our new feeds, kindly fill the form below. She stood up, the pain radiated from the right side of her skull, and she had to lie back down. On the morning of July 4, 2009, Mechelle McNair woke up with a crushing headache. He doesn't believe anyone can play quarterback as well as his father did, so why even try? 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. just standing in the pocket," said Lucille. MOUNT OLIVE, Miss - (WJTV) Next Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of the death of legendary Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair. Although she didn't grow up playing sports, Mechelle quickly acclimated herself to the life of a football wife. He sat behind her in class and constantly flirted. He was also the team's most effective rusher, tying George for the club lead with five scores. 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. "Isaid we struggling now,we are not always gonna be down. Following a 133 season in 2000 which ended in a playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens, McNair put together his most productive year as a pro in 2001. 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'm not going to do it.". This time, against the St. Louis Rams in the biggest game of his life, McNair helped to turn Super Bowl XXXIV into a circus-like affair. Well, thats when the drama started between his wife and mom. Two Years Later And Steve McNair's Estate Drama Continues You may remember, on July 4, 2009, NFL star Steve McNair was fatally shot by his mistress, Sahel Kazemi (seen below), in a murdersuicide. I don't want to be here by myself. [27], McNair's number was retired by the Titans during a halftime ceremony against the Indianapolis Colts on September 15, 2019. He sat behind her in class and constantly flirted. [19], Following the 2005 season, on April 30, 2006, the Titans allowed McNair and his agent, James "Bus" Cook, to speak with the Ravens to try to work out a deal. I don't. When his father passed away, Steve McNair Jr. was a star wide receiver at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. 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. And I don't feel like that's how God wants us to be.". Nearly 5,000 people mourned McNair at Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of Southern Miss. 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. I'm used to it by now. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Piller went to one of Trent's basketball games recently, and the younger McNair didn't disappoint. On the morning of July 4, 2009, Mechelle McNair woke up with a crushing headache. Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair. And I don't feel like that's how God wants us to be." Freshman year, she had a human anatomy class with McNair, and he spent most of it staring at her. In happy times, they belted out SWV songs in Mechelle's little, red, two-seater Mercedes, his tiny head bobbing to the music. [32], McNair earned the nickname "Air McNair" in high school. The McNairs never had a lot,but Lucille saysthey had each other. 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. Here was an NFL quarterback one season into retirement, a former co-MVP and a Super Bowl participant, murdered. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. "I mean, I'm here by myself. In 2011, a legal spat between Mechelle and Lucille over property in Mississippi played out in the local news media. This is so, so sad. "He said momma,we need the moneyand I said look,your education is more important," said Lucille. Timeline of Steve McNair and Sahel 'Jenni' Kazemi leading up to their deaths. Over that time, McNair threw 119 touchdown passes and set an FCS record by throwing and running for a combined 16,823 yards. When the police arrived, his corpse was on the couch with . She wasn't into sports, and she already had a boyfriend. Maybe they would have been anyway, had Steve McNair not been killed. 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. He was human. The enormity of his death cannot be overstated. Those assets included the million dollar mansion he had built for his mother, Lucille, to live in during her twilight years. She and her sons settled into a house surrounded by trees and the occasional deer that plops down in the middle of the yard. Aside from kid functions and dinners out, she lived the life of a homebody. Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair She knew how much potential he had. He'd handled everything -- the bills, the taxes, the boys' baseball swings -- until it was just her. Everyone wanted to know what Mechelle was feeling. Tyler believes it's the same thing his dad would have said. 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. She always worried where he was. He was quiet until you knew him, and he waited a while to talk to her. Yes. She was so happy at the end of their talk, when he said she could attend the next employee meeting. Family of Steve McNair dividing up estate despite lack of signed will - al Sports was always one of the tougher areas for Mechelle to navigate. "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.". This is just one of the many feel-good stories McNair was known for in his life. Since she loves taking care of others, shes even thinking of becoming a foster parent. "I loved him. Trent, pictured right, was 5. That drove Mechelle nuts, the waking up in the middle of the night. In 1998, McNair set career passing highs with 492 attempts, 289 completions, 3,228 yards, and 15 touchdowns for the Oilers, now competing in Nashville. He says she needs to go out more, to have fun sometimes. "I mean, I'm here by myself. 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. Christmas break is over, and the house is quiet. 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. He was catching up with friends and hanging out at Waffle House at 2 in the morning. McNair played in all sixteen games in 2000 but did not start the first of two annual games against the Steelers. Nobody knew where he was. There wasn't anything those children wanted that he didn't get for them." The team would not let him rehab in its building because it feared an injury would force the franchise to pay him $23.46 million (his contract had been restructured so often that his salary cap reached a hard-to-manage amount). 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. The boys call Mu "Uncle Mike." "I think that [Trent] would be attached to his dad.". Elyria Parent Sprays Elementary School Principal With Mace, Faces Felony, Become and DJ for Day Plus win $500 from Z1079. But,according to his mother,that was just a fraction of who Steve McNair was. Steve and Mechelle had happily welcomed their first child, Tyler McNair, a year after getting married, followed by Trenton roughly five years later. [48], Titans owner Bud Adams released a statement regarding McNair:[49]. Mechelle found strength and independence she never thought she had. So, there is not much information about what she do for a living. He told them to find something they loved and to do it well. Steven still resides in Mississippi. [16] All charges related to the incident were later dropped.[6]. She thinks he shows his emotions too much. Early in the season, McNair was diagnosed with an inflamed disk following the Titans' 3635 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and needed surgery. He was still trying to figure out his world outside of football. Christmas break is over, and the house is quiet. McNair had dreams of his restaurant becoming a chain. He took care of us. So, it is safe to say that she is currently a single woman. He did annoying things, peeking at her test answers, sticking his giant feet on her book bag. 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. McNair and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning were named co-NFL MVPs following the 2003 season, which ended for the Titans in a playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. There were good times, too. Here, let's have a glance over her marital life with her late husband. Piller, a former guard for the Titans, was one of McNair's pallbearers. Thus, after graduation, he committed to playing ball at Southern Mississippi before transferring to Pearl River Community College. Piller downplays his involvement. Further, he was buried at Griffith Cemetery in Prentiss, Mississippi, and over 5000 people attended his funeral. Shooting death of former Titans, Ravens QB McNair ruled a homicide - NFL McNair said he loved them. Furthermore, her younger child, Trenton, is a 64 shooting guard basketball player at Brentwood Academy and has already received an offer from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. Sometimes on the Fourth of July, he picked up the kids and bought fireworks and did anything that took their minds off the anniversary. She had one job: to raise their sons. Piller downplays his involvement. Though McNair was an NFL quarterback, he never wanted to force football or sports on his children. They are best friends. He ran to the kitchen and got a knife. Did I know about some other people and some other things? McNair missed nine more games during the rest of the season, due primarily to injury, only starting in six games. I can't wallow in it. McNair then offered to come over to check on her after she said her chest felt heavy. He'd say, 'I just need some rest.'" Mechelle says she could hear Steve's footsteps in the house sometimes. Mechelle McNair married to Steve McNair on 1997 and divorce on 2009. 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. His blood alcohol was above 0.10, and a 9-mm handgun was sitting in the front of the car. He ran his finger through the print and sounded out the words he knew. Ex-linemen tell stories about how she used to sit in the stands and yell at them to protect her husband. It would not go away. According to the last reports, Mechelle never remarried but is dating, and she received a degree in nursing years ago. "I can't say that I didn't have my bitter moments. 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. But now one of them is leaving, and Mechelle is just trying not to lose it. [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. [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. The couple had first met at Alcorn State, a historically black university in Claiborne County, Mississippi.