The 45 acre 6 bedroom ranch in Collins, MS was built by McNair for his mother; a gift to a woman, who as a single mom raised 5 rowdy boys in poor, rural Mississippi. The gun was also found near her dead body at the crime scene. We care about your data. Offensive linemen spend their careers protecting the quarterback, and Piller couldn't. "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." "I loved him. He did not have a will, creating a painful mess that dragged on for years. [27], McNair's number was retired by the Titans during a halftime ceremony against the Indianapolis Colts on September 15, 2019. The transition from football player to businessman was not smooth. 3 in the NFL draft. She keeps McNair's football memorabilia in the basement, where Trent dribbles his basketball and Tyler practices his dance moves. Trent, who was 5, rested his head on his mother's lap during the service. He will want to spend more time with his friends, not his mom. The couple had first met at Alcorn State, a historically black university in Claiborne County, Mississippi. He was found dead with the body of a young woman, Sahel Kazemi, in a rented house at 105 Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. He's going to kick the world's ass. 9 and Eddie George's No. But if I'm playing basketball, I kind of look up there and tell her to sshhhhh." "She's very vocal," Trent says. A "True Crimes with Aphrodite Jones" episode filmed in 2013 even pointed suspicion at her. But plans change. God and her friends and family who cooked and took the kids swimming and handled everything. [46][44], Two days before their deaths, Kazemi was pulled over in a black 2007 Cadillac Escalade in Nashville. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. [6][11], He was a member of the fraternity Omega Psi Phi, highlighting his allegiance by tattooing "Omega Man" on his arm. Unfortunately, she has been very tight-lipped concerning her professional life. "Honestly, the most I've ever felt like a child is this year," Tyler says. Times when McNair would take the boys out on his motorcycle and they didn't even need to talk. "If you put them out thereto throw passes,they looked the same. He asked how somebody could do this to his daddy. McNair then offered to come over to check on her after she said her chest felt heavy. Steve McNair, in full Steve LaTreal McNair, byname Air McNair, (born February 14, 1973, Mount Olive, Mississippi, U.S.died July 4, 2009, Nashville, Tennessee), American gridiron football player who threw 174 touchdown passes during his 13 National Football League (NFL) seasons (19952008), primarily while playing for the Tennessee Titans. Tyler believes it's the same thing his dad would have said. She doesn't want to be a hindrance to him. The boys call Mu "Uncle Mike." [42] The bodies were discovered by McNair's friends Wayne Neely and Robert Gaddy, who called 911. Lucille says Steve gave freely of his time,his talents and his money. Mechelle is 45 now, and she does not look old enough to be dropping a son off at college. Here was an NFL quarterback one season into retirement, a former co-MVP and a Super Bowl participant, murdered. Although she didn't grow up playing sports, Mechelle quickly acclimated herself to the life of a football wife. He told Mechelle that the alarm was going off at his restaurant, but she knows now that Kazemi was probably the one who called. [23], On May 9, 2007, McNair was arrested in Nashville for drunk driving even though he was not driving at the time. She would go to her room, door closed, and sob. Eddie George Then & Now . He never forced his sons to play sports. The funeral program included memories from McNair's mother, his wife . In a short while, the officials concluded that shed shot her boyfriend before turning the gun on herself in a jealous rage. Further, he was buried at Griffith Cemetery in Prentiss, Mississippi, and over 5000 people attended his funeral. Piller, a former guard for the Titans, was one of McNair's pallbearers. I know how it is when you ain't got nothing,and I never believed that I would be in this position to help other people," said Lucille. "Steve was a good person," Mechelle's mother says. And that I still don't sometimes. See our privacy policy. Dance was his release, a way of working through his emotions. So he would sacrifice his bodyto try and help his team and his teammates," said Lucille. He was catching up with friends and hanging out at Waffle House at 2 in the morning. [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. Trent is headstrong and stubborn and has a bit of a temper. "He would just come home and be, like, dead," Tyler says. Steve McNair was buried on a Saturday in his home state of Mississippi. McNair was selected with the third pick in the 1995 NFL draft by the Houston Oilerswho became the Tennessee Titans in 1999. The boys call Mu "Uncle Mike." After the 2005 season, McNair was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, with whom he played for two seasons before retiring. Steve and Mechelle shares two children from their marital relationship. "He was the first one saying how proud he was of me and how proud my dad would be. This past summer, Mechelle and her sons visited Lucille in Mississippi. In the winter of 2016, Tyler was one of the best basketball players at Brentwood Academy, a Christian school with a powerhouse basketball program. [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. I've gotta keep going." On June 8, McNair flew to Baltimore, passed a physical and was announced as the newest member of the Ravens. Mechelle told him she didn't know. 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. It was a good day for two little boys who saw their dad as a superhero. It's the most I've felt like a regular person, like nothing has happened.". He accumulated this hefty amount of money from his career as a talented NFL player. ". He took care of us. She never imagined she'd leave Mississippi after college to move to Houston with a man who had just been selected at No. Christmas break is over, and the house is quiet. Their normal. [9] An All-State selection (offense), McNair was named an All-American by Super Prep magazine (defense). Here Are The 7 Best Date Night Restaurants in Cleveland! He will want to spend more time with his friends, not his mom. But plans change. In his stead entered Neil O'Donnell, a veteran who had guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl four years earlier. According to Piller, Trent hit five 3-pointers. And on the gridiron,he was magic. Thus, all of Steves assets were left to her. Tyler, who was 10, started crying. And them. McNair also 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. Early in the season, McNair was diagnosed with an inflamed disk following the Titans' 3635 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and needed surgery. She loves taking care of people. She got on the elliptical machine, hoping some exercise would get rid of the headache. Mourners console Lucille McNair, the mother of Steve McNair, during the former NFL quarterback's funeral Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. The boys are so close that Trent sleeps in Tyler's bed when he's at college. "Don't go," Tyler and Trent told him. Did I know about some other people and some other things? I'm not going to do it." She says she protects her heart and her kids. I'm just pushing forward. (McNair also has two older sons from previous relationships.) He cleaned the fish when they got home that night, washed his truck and began to doze off on the couch. 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. [35] Kazemi and McNair had been previously involved with each other romantically. Not only did he always keep them safe and well-provided for, but he was also present when needed. But he could be there for McNair's boys. 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. She thinks he shows his emotions too much. Nice Mini-Skirt: Why is Young Thug Wearing It? Without a doubt, she must have inherited a portion of her husband's fortune. 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. She made faces at him to try to get him to stop. Trent will put his hands on his hips and walk to the bench, and it reminds Piller of Steve heading to the huddle. Those assets included the million dollar mansion he had built for his mother, Lucille, to live in during her twilight years. He also did not play the full game in Week 3, however, the game was won by the Ravens, 2623. That drove Mechelle nuts, the waking up in the middle of the night. It would not go away. He was known as one of the toughest men in football, playing through myriad injuries. E:60's John Minton III and Ryan Smith contributed to this report. [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. The game had a controversial finish when, after missing a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation time and a second failed kick in overtime was negated because of a controversial running-into-the-kicker penalty on Pittsburgh's Dewayne Washington, kicker Joe Nedney won the game from 26 yards out 2:15 into overtime. 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. In the worst times, she kept both of her little boys beside her in bed, where she could keep them close and safe. But now one of them is leaving, and Mechelle is just trying not to lose it. He says she needs to go out more, to have fun sometimes. Before everything changed. But I'm not going to hell blaming somebody or having the hate and animosity in my heart. What we admired most about Steve when we played against him was his competitive spirit, and we were lucky enough to have that with us for two years. 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. He leaned on his mother, Mechelle, and Tyler, at left. Ex-linemen tell stories about how she used to sit in the stands and yell at them to protect her husband. For more, watch E:60's story, "Heir McNair," on Sunday at 9 a.m. on ESPN, or stream it on WatchESPN. He was 36 when he died, and he had just opened Gridiron9, a catfish-and-burger joint in north Nashville. Oldest son Fred McNair was the first star to emerge. Steve McNair was buried on a Saturday in his home state of Mississippi. This past summer, Mechelle and her sons visited Lucille in Mississippi. The driver failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI; McNair was charged with DUI by consent. "Most of the time I really don't hear it that much, but when I do, it's a little bit embarrassing. He didn't just turn out all right. She thinks about the next chapter in her life. The well-known footballer, Steve, died on 4 July 2009 at the age of 46. Steve McNair, in full Steve LaTreal McNair, byname Air McNair, (born February 14, 1973, Mount Olive, Mississippi, U.S.died July 4, 2009, Nashville, Tennessee), American gridiron football player who threw 174 touchdown passes during his 13 National Football League (NFL) seasons (1995-2008), primarily while playing for the Tennessee Titans. The enormity of his death cannot be overstated. Ex-Tennessee tight end Bo Scaife filled Tyler's closet with sneakers. "He said, 'but they need me and I'm not going to let them down.' Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Today, his estate is still dealing with his lack of planning. He was human. I do know that. 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. "You're going to have people who say, 'Oh, she knew.' Things around the McNair family have been tense, to say the least, since Steve passed in 2009. But her sons were terrified and confused. Trent, pictured right, was 5. Eventually, there will be more goodbyes. How do you think she was feeling? Steve McNair was born on Valentine's Day, and he died on the Fourth of July. But it gets worse, she told Steves mom to pay $3,000 rent or get the hell out! McNair was in the passenger seat and Vent Gordon, a chef at a restaurant McNair owned, was in the back seat. Mechelle appreciates the little things, such as the neighbor who used to replace the boys' basketball net whenever it looked worn, or the random texts Piller sends to the boys to ask how it's going. Over that time, McNair threw 119 touchdown passes and set an FCS record by throwing and running for a combined 16,823 yards. Trent, who was 5, rested his head on his mother's. "What's my purpose? Fred and Timboth played football, and younger brother Steve was magic,in both footballand baseball. Maybe they would have been anyway, had Steve McNair not been killed. McNair threw for 3,228 yards and 15 touchdowns in '98, and he led the Titans to the Super Bowl a year later. Mechelle told him she didn't know. Christmas break is over, and the house is quiet. I still love him. #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. According to Piller, Trent hit five 3-pointers. Steve and Mechelle had happily welcomed their first child, Tyler McNair, a year after getting married, followed by Trenton roughly five years later. Brett Favre and Ray Lewis and Jay Cutler showed up for the funeral. He felt pressure from fans, students and coaches to stay on the basketball team. But she put off doing the paperwork, and Alcorn was the school that offered her a scholarship. Although she didn't grow up playing sports, Mechelle quickly acclimated herself to the life of a football wife. He said he had to go, and kissed the boys goodbye. 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. She had plenty to cheer about by the time the franchise moved to Tennessee in 1997. [44] Kazemi had a worsening financial situation and also suspected that McNair was in another extramarital relationship. Initially, she did not believe her husband was dead. Mechelle knows life will change again soon, when Trent gets his driver's license. Twitter wasn't a factor yet, but there were plenty of media outlets to feed off of the stunning story of a Tennessee football hero killed by 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi, a woman with whom he'd been having an affair. Ex-Tennessee tight end Bo Scaife filled Tyler's closet with sneakers. [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. He split time between his home in Nashville and his farm in Collins, Mississippi. He felt pressure from fans, students and coaches to stay on the basketball team. She never worried about that with Tyler, but for some reason, she thinks about it now that it's just her and Trent. The boxes are unpacked, the dorm room is clean, and there is nothing else to do but say goodbye. He tried to do both at first, but soon it was too much. Well, that's when the drama started between his wife and mom. "He was a good dad. She got on the elliptical machine, hoping some exercise would get rid of the headache. It had been a long time since they'd been there. Well, thats when the drama started between his wife and mom. He says that McNair would do the same thing for him, and that what he does isn't much. From that moment on, she could not let her children see her break down. 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. The pressure to be Steve McNair's son weighs heavily. Trent will put his hands on his hips and walk to the bench, and it reminds Piller of Steve heading to the huddle. McNair holds an Oilers jersey with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and McNair's mother, Lucille, April 22, 1995 in New York. It was a good day for two little boys who saw their dad as a superhero. She knew how much potential he had. St. Louis scored the first 16 points as McNair struggled . The old home had too many memories. Freshman year, she had a human anatomy class with McNair, and he spent most of it staring at her. Just 24 hours earlier, McNair had taken his sons fishing. 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. Apart from her wealth, her late husband, Steve's net worth was around $26 Million at the time of his death. She would lean on her friends, who dropped everything to be with her in Nashville, or cry to her aunts and uncles. "He never cried, not once," Mrs. McNair. He had four brothers, Fred, Jason, Michael, and Tim. 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. 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. McNair was known as one of the toughest players in the NFL. "When I think about it, I don't want to be old and not have anybody to spend my last days with. Also known as: Air McNair, Steve LaTreal McNair. "I didn't know about her at all," Mechelle says. "He would just come home and be, like, dead," Tyler says. Maybe she could do that. She loves taking care of people. Nine years later, it's still hard for him to talk about McNair. The last full conversation he had with Mechelle centered on the restaurant's nightly receipts constantly being off and her desire to help. A few months after his death, the restaurant was sold. I feel like I'm the weakest person sometimes. The transition from football player to businessman was not smooth. She doesn't want to go through any more pain. Courtesy Mechelle McNair. Tyler graduated from Brentwood in the spring. 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. "I think that [Trent] would be attached to his dad.". I'm just pushing forward. Tyler tells her everything, even the stuff that can get him grounded.

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