It would not go away. Their normal. He told them to find something they loved and do it well. He cleaned the fish when they got home that night, washed his truck and began to doze off on the couch. He did not have a will, creating a painful mess that dragged on for years. Then there was Mike Mu, a longtime family friend who used to run McNair's foundation. The night of his death, McNair put his children to bed, then at 11:00p.m. he texted Kazemi "On my way. In 1996, McNair remained a backup to Chris Chandler until starting a game on December 8 in Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.[13]. Offensive linemen spend their careers protecting the quarterback, and Piller couldn't. She and Steve McNair had two sons together. "Just stay focused and move on up. Everyone changed. McNair was known for his tenacity in playing through injuries and his dexterity as a scrambler or passer. "What's my purpose? "[People] always say, 'Oh, I admire you so much. But I'm not going to hell blaming somebody or having the hate and animosity in my heart. I've gotta keep going." When the police arrived, his corpse was on the couch with multiple wounds of the gunshot, including one to the head. 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. In happy times, they belted out SWV songs in Mechelle's little, red, two-seater Mercedes, his tiny head bobbing to the music. Just 24 hours earlier, McNair had taken his sons fishing. 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. But this moment in front of the school is a good one. I got to dance all the time, I got to travel, and I got into the college I wanted to. Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair After thirteen seasons in the NFL, McNair announced his retirement from professional football in April 2008. [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. During the 2009 NFL season, every member of the Titans wore a commemorative "9" sticker placed on the back of each helmet to honor McNair. "He would just come home and be, like, dead," Tyler says. When news of his death flashed on the TV screen, Cartwright rushed through the house to Mechelle's room. Time, if you handle it right, has a way of filtering out the bad memories but leaving the good. Dance was his release, a way of working through his emotions. She would lean on her friends, who dropped everything to be with her in Nashville, or cry to her aunts and uncles. The other two are from previous relationships. I've been there." ", Tyler, right, and Trent served as honorary 12th Titans in a November game against the Baltimore Ravens. Here, let's have a glance over her marital life with her late husband. A "True Crimes with Aphrodite Jones" episode filmed in 2013 even pointed suspicion at her. More on Steve McNair Without a doubt, she must have inherited a portion of her husband's fortune. Trent shows flashes of great talent at quarterback, but he won't play the position. Not to mention, he has played with two of the reputed football teams, Houston Titans and Baltimore Ravens, along with Lamar Jackson. Timeline of Steve McNair and Sahel 'Jenni' Kazemi leading up to their deaths. 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 sat behind her in class and constantly flirted. And that I still don't sometimes. A handful of them delivered. McNair threw for 3,228 yards and 15 touchdowns in '98, and he led the Titans to the Super Bowl a year later. Everyone changed. She stood up, the pain radiated from the right side of her skull, and she had to lie back down. Mechelle knows life will change again soon, when Trent gets his driver's license. He told them to find something they loved and to do it well. The pressure to be Steve McNair's son weighs heavily. She would not lose it in front of them. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The boxes are unpacked, the dorm room is clean, and there is nothing else to do but say goodbye. 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. Courtesy Mechelle McNair Tyler believes it's the same thing his dad would have said. Today, his estate is still dealing with his lack of planning. They met at Alcorn State, a historically black college in rural Claiborne County, Mississippi. He says she needs to go out more, to have fun sometimes. A post shared by Trent McNair (@trentmac9). Image via ABC. She got on the elliptical machine, hoping some exercise would get rid of the headache. Dance was his release, a way of working through his emotions. She is thankful for that last day McNair had with the boys and for that night when they argued and made up. She has thought about becoming a foster parent. She never imagined she'd leave Mississippi after college to move to Houston with a man who had just been selected at No. I feel like I'm the weakest person sometimes. The fact that he was the quarterback everyone on campus was talking about held no currency with Mechelle. Maybe they would have been anyway, had Steve McNair not been killed. and in junior high they started doing,and I saidsomething is not right about this. He'd handled everything -- the bills, the taxes, the boys' baseball swings -- until it was just her. Mourners console Lucille McNair, the mother of Steve McNair, during the former NFL quarterback's funeral Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. The McNairs never had a lot,but Lucille saysthey had each other. So, there is not much information about what she do for a living. Tyler disagrees. She would wonder, later, about signs. She had plans. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. I can't wallow in it. Tyler is at New York University on an academic scholarship for a degree in biology while pursuing a career in the entertainment industry as a dancer. On the final play of the game, McNair's pass to Dyson was complete, but Dyson was unable to break the plane of the goal line, giving the Rams the win. In 2013, she sold their 13,000-square-foot house and moved to a smaller home. 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. Her husband would have done things differently. She would go to her room, door closed, and sob. After the death of her husband, she has not married nor has any relationship with other men. 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 wanted to see him so she could help him. But McNair was persistent. But after Steve's death, the most intimate details of her life were fodder for public consumption. She has thought about becoming a foster parent. "I don't want him to look at me and say, 'Oh, my mom is just kind of relaxed,'" she says. He will want to spend more time with his friends, not his mom. Mechelle found strength and independence she never thought she had. In continuing his charity and philanthropic work, Tennessee Titans Quarterback Steve McNair was recently honored as Nashville's Philanthropist of the Year. The 46 years old wife of Steve, Mechelle was married to her long-time husband, Steve McNair, until 2009. He sees flashes of his friend, and it helps him stay close to him. He's going to kick the world's ass. Thank you for subscribing! A few months after his death, the restaurant was sold. He told them to find something they loved and to do it well. McNair holds an Oilers jersey with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and McNair's mother, Lucille, April 22, 1995 in New York. But Fred was more,Fred would pick you apart. He doesn't believe anyone can play quarterback as well as his father did, so why even try? She doesn't want to go through any more pain. "[38] There was also a conversation about financial issues where McNair transferred $2,000 to Kazemi, who claimed she was "stressed" and needed to pay her phone bill. I always have thought Steve got his toughness from his mother. He'd say, 'I just need some rest.'" I'm used to it by now. Over the course of his NFL career, McNair passed for 31,304 yards, rushed for 3,590 yards, played in three Pro Bowls, and was named joint Most Valuable Player in 2003, along with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. 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 tried to do both at first, but soon it was too much. In that contest, McNair returned from an injury and helped Alcorn State, trailing late in the final period, move deep into Tigers' territory. He kissed Mechelle and told her he loved her, too. Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair. He could see McNair smiling and telling his boy, "Good job, Buddy." Steve McNair was buried on a Saturday in his home state of Mississippi. "At the end of the day, that's my husband," she says. Before everything changed. Times when the family would pair up in teams and wrestle, Mechelle and Tyler on one side; Trent and Steve on the other. God got her through this, she says. "I think that [Trent] would be attached to his dad.". 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. [27], McNair's number was retired by the Titans during a halftime ceremony against the Indianapolis Colts on September 15, 2019. Ex-Tennessee tight end Bo Scaife filled Tyler's closet with sneakers. In fact,he was the first to wear the #9 jersey that his younger brother would eventually make famous. The boys are so close that Trent sleeps in Tyler's bed when he's at college. Yes. Initially, she did not believe her husband was dead. According to his wife, Michele, the will that his agent claimed was drawn up has been lost. Steve McNair's No.9 jersey will be retired during a halftime ceremony during Sunday's home opener against the Indianapolis Colts. In a short while, the officials concluded that shed shot her boyfriend before turning the gun on herself in a jealous rage. For many, the pain still lingers and will never go away. And I said what you ain't got,you can't miss it.". Yet, Steves persistence and personality won her over, so she found herself leaving the state with him after graduation to support his NFL career. He added, "We believe now, at this time, that McNair was seated on the sofa and likely was asleep, and we believe that . Tyler, who is majoring in biology at NYU while continuing to pursue his dancing dreams, forged a path so different from his father's. Sometimes on the Fourth of July, he picked up the kids and bought fireworks and did anything that took their minds off the anniversary. "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.". The judge agreed, and each of the four children received $500,000. There were many people at McNair's funeral who vowed to be there for Tyler and Trent. But plans change. "You're going to have people who say, 'Oh, she knew.' 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. Pat Boone, a singer from the 1950s, eventually bought the home. Sheoffers this advice to other young athletes who aspire to be Warriors on the field,like McNair. He led the Titans to the franchises first Super Bowl berth in 2000. 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. [24] The quarterback's charge was dropped on July 10, 2007 when McNair's brother-in-law pleaded guilty to reckless driving.[25]. Trent will put his hands on his hips and walk to the bench, and it reminds Piller of Steve heading to the huddle. 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. One of the popular celebrity wives, Mechelle McNair, is best-known as the wife of late Steve McNair. "He was the first one saying how proud he was of me and how proud my dad would be." And that I still don't sometimes. In 2011, a legal spat between Mechelle and Lucille over property in Mississippi played out in the local news media. The pressure to be Steve McNair's son weighs heavily. 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. 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. 3 in the NFL draft. She would go to her room, door closed, and sob. In 2001, McNair registered career passing highs in yards (3,350), completions (264), touchdowns (21), and quarterback rating (90.2). Bossip Comment Policy He had four brothers, Fred, Jason, Michael, and Tim. 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. [44] Kazemi had a worsening financial situation and also suspected that McNair was in another extramarital relationship. 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. 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). She was slow to trust after her husband's death and never remarried. And now, from what we have been able to discern, he doesnt play professionally, is a father, and prefers to keep his distance from the spotlight. She once took him on a girlfriends-only trip to the Bahamas, and if anyone took issue with it, well, tough. Times when the family would pair up in teams and wrestle, Mechelle and Tyler on one side; Trent and Steve on the other. 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. She wanted to see him so she could help him. Every season, Mechelle sends Trent's basketball schedule to Mu and to Zach Piller. In his stead entered Neil O'Donnell, a veteran who had guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl four years earlier. They are best friends. Former Titans Chris Johnson and Vince Young took the boys to the locker room, just as their dad had done. There he guided his team to a comeback from a 16-point deficit, and the Titans came within a yard of the tying touchdown, only to ultimately lose to the St. Louis Rams. Tyler tells her everything, even the stuff that can get him grounded. 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. She received her degree in nursing years ago. Did I know about some other people and some other things? "I don't want him to look at me and say, 'Oh, my mom is just kind of relaxed,'" she says. Live with Fuel; Saturday, August . Steven went as far as to addthat he and Steve Jr. have been closed out of their younger brothers lives and their fathers legacy, which Mechelle has since denied. Just because she doesnt know how to manage money doesnt mean she can bully her dead husbands poor old mother! Copyright 2021, All Right Reserved MARRIEDCELEB. In 2011, a legal spat between Mechelle and Lucille over property in Mississippi played out in the local news media. Mechelle was born in 1973 in the USA. [6][11], He was a member of the fraternity Omega Psi Phi, highlighting his allegiance by tattooing "Omega Man" on his arm. The last full conversation he had with Mechelle centered on the restaurant's nightly receipts constantly being off and her desire to help. 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. Trent, who was 5, rested his head on his mother's lap during the service. But when she saw how committed Tyler was to dance, she told him to do what makes him happy. Before everything changed. Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair She is thankful for that last day McNair had with the boys and for that night when they argued and made up. Nine years after Mechelle McNair's world caved in, her oldest son, Tyler, is going to NYU on an academic scholarship. Copyright 2016 MSNewsNow. This was how Steve McNair told his mother he would now be making enough money where she could quit her job. George Clark/Hattiesburg American POOL/Getty Images. 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. Not only did he always keep them safe and well-provided for, but he was also present when needed. She knew how much potential he had. McNair played with the Titans franchise for 11 seasons before finishing his career with the Baltimore Ravens (200608). He leaned on his mother, Mechelle, and Tyler, at left. Nine years later, it's still hard for him to talk about McNair. 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. The Titans held a two-day memorial at LP Field on July 8 and 9, 2009, where fans could pay their last respects to McNair. Mechelle grabbed him and told him to stop. He took care of us. When it hit her, she fell to the floor, screaming. McNair played in all sixteen games in 2000 but did not start the first of two annual games against the Steelers.

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