Fifteen years ago today, the tragic death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair occurred at the age of 36. The official report stated that McNair was murdered by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Jenny Kazemi, who then took her own life. However, many questions remained unanswered, with suspicions that it was a double murder disguised as a murder-suicide lingering in the minds of many.
McNair was the third overall pick in the 1995 NFL draft from Alcorn State and had a successful career spanning 13 years. He played for the Oilers and Titans for 11 seasons before finishing his career with the Ravens in 2006 and 2007. One of his notable achievements was leading the Titans to a Super Bowl appearance in XXXIV, coming just short of forcing overtime in a thrilling game against the Rams.
Accumulating over 31,000 career passing yards and appearing in 161 regular-season games with 153 starts, McNair had a remarkable career in the NFL. He shared the 2003 MVP award with Peyton Manning, cementing his place as one of the league’s top quarterbacks. Recognized for his contributions to the Titans, his number 9 jersey has been retired by the team, and he is honored in their Ring of Honor.
For those who want to learn more about Steve McNair’s life and career, the episode of A Football Life dedicated to him is highly recommended for a deeper understanding of his legacy in the NFL.