Steve McNair (1973-2009)

By Scott

Former Alcorn State, Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans, and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was found shot to death in a Nashville condominium on Saturday morning. McNair's death has been ruled a homicide, but it remains unknown as to whether the woman who was also found dead in the apartment committed a murder-suicide, or if both were murdered. Regardless, the loss of the 36-year-old father of four sent shock waves across the nation.

McNair's storied career began in high school where McNair excelled in four sports. Playing both ways, McNair led the Mount Olive High football team to the Mississippi State Championship, all while tying the state record for interceptions as the team's safety. As if that wasn't enough, McNair was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1991, but the quarterback chose his passion and committed to I-AA school, Alcorn State to play football.

At Alcorn State, McNair continued where he left off in high school. Tearing apart defenses with 3,541 passing yards and 39 total touchdowns in 1992, a season that included a game in which McNair came back from a leg injury against Grambling and ran in the winning touchdown. Something that McNair would do many times throughout his career. His success continued throughout his college career, and in his senior season, McNair totaled over 6,000 yards passing and rushing and found the endzone 53 times. His senior year success earned him national attention, as McNair won the Walter Payton Award for best I-AA player and finished third in Heisman voting.

With the third pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, the Houston Oilers selected Steve McNair. McNair rode the bench for most of his first two seasons, but took the helm as the starting quarterback in 1997. He immediately let his presence be felt around the league as the Oilers finished 8-8 and McNair totaled 2,665 yards passing, 674 yards rushing, and 22 total touchdowns. However, McNair really came into his own in 1999 when the Oilers became the Tennessee Titans. After leading the Titans to a win over the Bengals in week 1, McNair was sidelined by an inflamed disk and replaced by Neil O'Donnell. O'Donnell went 4-1 with the Titans, but McNair took the job back once he was healthy and led Tennessee to an 8-2 record and a wild-card playoff birth. That year, McNair led the team to Super Bowl 34 where the Titans came just 1 yard short of sending the game into overtime. It was McNair's first and last Super Bowl appearance.

After years of success with Tennessee which included an MVP award in 2003 and multiple playoff appearances which were ultimately unsuccessful, the Titans traded the man who had become the face of their franchise due to constant injury and age issues. McNair became the leading man in Baltimore, a team that desperately needed an offensive boost. After starting every game and leading the Ravens to a 13-3 record in 2006, McNair couldn't get the Ravens over the hump, and the team was defeated by the eventual champions, the Indianapolis Colts, in the first round. In 2007, McNair missed 9 games due to injury, and after 13 seasons, McNair called it quits, and retired.

McNair's career can be summed up in one word: Toughness. He played through injuries on virtually every part of his body from his toes, ankles, sternum, back, ribs, fingers, groin, and you get the picture. He was never the sexiest player and didn't make many highlight reels, but McNair did the small things right, and his legacy will be one of a gutsy player and a true class act.