Steve 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.
50 Facts About Steve McNair
2.
Steve McNair was drafted third overall by the Titans in 1995, becoming the team's regular starting quarterback in 1997, their first season in Tennessee, and remained the starting quarterback for the Titans through 2005.
3.
Steve McNair was selected to the Pro Bowl four times, and was an All-Pro and Co-MVP in 2003.
4.
Steve McNair was born in a small tin-roofed house in Mount Olive, Mississippi on February 14,1973.
5.
Steve McNair had four brothers, Fred, Jason, Michael, and Tim.
6.
Steve McNair 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.
7.
Steve McNair played free safety in high school, and in 1990 alone, he intercepted 15 passes, raising his career total to 30, which tied the mark established by Terrell Buckley at Pascagoula High School.
8.
An All-State selection, Steve McNair was named an All-American by Super Prep magazine.
9.
Steve McNair was initially offered a full scholarship to the University of Florida to play running back, but wanting to play quarterback, Steve McNair chose Alcorn State University, a Historically Black University which competes in the NCAA's Division I-AA Southwestern Athletic Conference.
10.
In 1992, Steve McNair threw 3,541 yards and 29 touchdowns, and ran in for 10 more scores.
11.
In that contest, Steve McNair returned from an injury and helped Alcorn State, trailing late in the final period, move deep into Tigers' territory.
12.
Steve McNair was named First-Team All-SWAC for the third year in a row.
13.
Steve 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.
14.
Steve McNair was a member of the fraternity Omega Psi Phi, highlighting his allegiance by tattooing "Omega Man" on his arm.
15.
In 1996, Steve McNair remained a backup to Chris Chandler until starting a game on December 8 in Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
16.
Steve 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.
17.
Steve McNair 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.
18.
In 1998, Steve McNair set career passing highs with 492 attempts, 289 completions, 3,228 yards, and 15 touchdowns for the Oilers, now playing in Nashville.
19.
Steve McNair cut his interceptions to ten, helping his quarterback rating climb to 80.1.
20.
Steve McNair signed a new six-year contract after the 1999 season worth US$47 million.
21.
Steve McNair played in all sixteen games in 2000 but did not start the first of two annual games against the Steelers.
22.
In 2001, Steve McNair registered career passing highs in yards, completions, touchdowns, and quarterback rating.
23.
Steve McNair was the team's most effective rusher, tying George for the club lead with five scores.
24.
Between the 2002 and 2003 seasons, Steve McNair was arrested for DUI and illegal gun possession.
25.
In December of the 2003 season, an injured calf and ankle kept Steve 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, and a quarterback rating of 100.4.
26.
Steve 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.
27.
The 2006 season saw Steve McNair start each game for the Ravens, missing only portions of two games.
28.
Steve McNair made his first playoff start as a Raven against the Colts on January 13,2007.
29.
On May 9,2007, Steve McNair was arrested in Nashville for drunk driving even though he was not driving at the time.
30.
Steve McNair was riding in his own pickup truck as a passenger when the police stopped the truck's driver, Steve McNair's brother-in-law, for speeding.
31.
The driver failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI; Steve McNair was charged with DUI by consent.
32.
The quarterback's charge was dropped on July 10,2007 when Steve McNair's brother-in-law pleaded guilty to reckless driving.
33.
Steve McNair missed nine more games during the rest of the season, due primarily to injury, only starting in six games.
34.
In July 2012, Steve McNair was named the 35th greatest quarterback of the NFL's post-merger era, according to Football Nation.
35.
Steve McNair's number was retired by the Titans during a halftime ceremony against the Indianapolis Colts on September 15,2019.
36.
Steve McNair was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
37.
Steve McNair was married to Mechelle Steve McNair from June 21,1997, until his death.
38.
Steve McNair opened his own restaurant in Nashville, which he named Gridiron9.
39.
On July 4,2009, Steve 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 Steve McNair in downtown Nashville.
40.
Kazemi and Steve McNair had been previously involved with each other romantically.
41.
Steve McNair then offered to come over to check on her after she said her chest felt heavy.
42.
Kazemi had a worsening financial situation and suspected that Steve McNair was in another extramarital relationship.
43.
Steve McNair was in the passenger seat and Vent Gordon, a chef at a restaurant Steve McNair owned, was in the back seat.
44.
Steve McNair was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
45.
Steve McNair was not arrested, instead leaving in a taxi with Gordon, despite Kazemi repeatedly asking the arresting officer to tell Steve McNair to come to the police car to talk to her.
46.
Steve McNair was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans.
47.
Steve McNair played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl.
48.
Steve McNair is one of the best players in the NFL over the last 20 years.
49.
Steve McNair died without a last will and testament, and his assets were frozen pending probate of his estate.
50.
On October 15,2010, it was reported that Steve 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.