Remembering a Titan: Steve McNair (1973-2009)

Steve McNair went from a HBCU football team to become a big-league NFL star. Get the story behind his triumphs and tragic death

Found Dead - On July 4, 2009, Steve LaTreal McNair was found dead in a condominium in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. McNair’s body was riddled with multiple gunshot wounds, including two to the body and two to the head. Also found dead – with a single gunshot wound to the head – was a female victim, 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi.

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Found Dead - On July 4, 2009, Steve LaTreal McNair was found dead in a condominium in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. McNair’s body was riddled with multiple gunshot wounds, including two to the body and two to the head. Also found dead – with a single gunshot wound to the head – was a female victim, 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi.

Death Ruled Homicide - The Nashville Police declared 36-year-old McNair's death a homicide on July 5. A day later, they ruled that ex-NFL star's 20-year-old girlfriend killed him before turning the gun on herself.

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Death Ruled Homicide - The Nashville Police declared 36-year-old McNair's death a homicide on July 5. A day later, they ruled that ex-NFL star's 20-year-old girlfriend killed him before turning the gun on herself.

Shooting Motive - Nashville Police determined on Wednesday that jealousy drove the former quarterback's 20-year-old girlfriend to shoot him dead while he slept and then kill herself. The gun found at the scene of crime was under Kazemi's body.

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Shooting Motive - Nashville Police determined on Wednesday that jealousy drove the former quarterback's 20-year-old girlfriend to shoot him dead while he slept and then kill herself. The gun found at the scene of crime was under Kazemi's body.

Dead for Hours - The couple had been dead for hours when McNair's friend Wayne Neeley, who leased the condo with him, found the bodies at around 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 4.

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Dead for Hours - The couple had been dead for hours when McNair's friend Wayne Neeley, who leased the condo with him, found the bodies at around 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 4.

Murder-Suicide - Kazemi was working as a waitress in Nashville when she met McNair, who bought her a 2007 Cadillac sports utility vehicle and took her on vacations. Several days before the slaying, Kazemi had seen someone she thought might be McNair's new girlfriend leaving the apartment and followed her, police said.

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Murder-Suicide - Kazemi was working as a waitress in Nashville when she met McNair, who bought her a 2007 Cadillac sports utility vehicle and took her on vacations. Several days before the slaying, Kazemi had seen someone she thought might be McNair's new girlfriend leaving the apartment and followed her, police said.

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Kazemi Family Speaks - Kazemi's relatives have said she believed McNair planned to divorce his wife and marry her - but no divorce papers were ever filed. Police said Kazemi was also worried about money. They discovered she was paying for two cars and her rent was doubling.

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Kazemi Family Speaks - Kazemi's relatives have said she believed McNair planned to divorce his wife and marry her - but no divorce papers were ever filed. Police said Kazemi was also worried about money. They discovered she was paying for two cars and her rent was doubling.

Kazemi’s DUI Arrest - Early Thursday, Kazemi was arrested for DUI while driving a Cadillac Escalade that was registered in both of their names. McNair was with her but wasn't charged, and police allowed him to leave the scene. He later bailed her out. That night, Kazemi went alone to buy the handgun.

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Kazemi’s DUI Arrest - Early Thursday, Kazemi was arrested for DUI while driving a Cadillac Escalade that was registered in both of their names. McNair was with her but wasn't charged, and police allowed him to leave the scene. He later bailed her out. That night, Kazemi went alone to buy the handgun.

Chilling Song - The Nashville City Paper uncovered a song released by Kazemi's ex-boyfriend, aspiring rapper Keith Norfleet, called "Closed Casket." The lyrics describe killing an older man. Nashville Police have refused to call Norfleet a suspect in the shooting deaths of Kazemi and McNair.

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Chilling Song - The Nashville City Paper uncovered a song released by Kazemi's ex-boyfriend, aspiring rapper Keith Norfleet, called "Closed Casket." The lyrics describe killing an older man. Nashville Police have refused to call Norfleet a suspect in the shooting deaths of Kazemi and McNair.

Reflecting On His Good - Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher asked that fans put aside the circumstances of McNair's homicide and reflect on his good qualities and résumé instead. "My hope is that we can get past the circumstances and let those go, OK, and dwell and stay focused on the type of player and person that he was," Fisher said.

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Reflecting On His Good - Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher asked that fans put aside the circumstances of McNair's homicide and reflect on his good qualities and résumé instead. "My hope is that we can get past the circumstances and let those go, OK, and dwell and stay focused on the type of player and person that he was," Fisher said.

Missing Him 'Dearly' - Eddie George, the running back who lined up in the backfield with McNair for eight seasons, said he thinks something is fishy. "It seems like it was too professionally done," George said, noting that he will miss McNair "dearly."

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Missing Him 'Dearly' - Eddie George, the running back who lined up in the backfield with McNair for eight seasons, said he thinks something is fishy. "It seems like it was too professionally done," George said, noting that he will miss McNair "dearly."

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'He was My Friend' - Former Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Brad Hopkins said, "Steve was my friend... Every walk he took, I was probably right next to him. We fought and bled together," said Hopkins. "He meant a lot to a lot of people. Not just people on the football field," Hopkins continued, adding that he doesn't understand how people can take lives so violently.

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'He was My Friend' - Former Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Brad Hopkins said, "Steve was my friend... Every walk he took, I was probably right next to him. We fought and bled together," said Hopkins. "He meant a lot to a lot of people. Not just people on the football field," Hopkins continued, adding that he doesn't understand how people can take lives so violently.

Unaware of Affair - Mechelle McNair, who has not spoken publicly since the shooting, has been described by people close to her as being very upset and distraught, AP reports. She reportedly did not know about her husband’s affair.

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Unaware of Affair - Mechelle McNair, who has not spoken publicly since the shooting, has been described by people close to her as being very upset and distraught, AP reports. She reportedly did not know about her husband’s affair.

Family Life - McNair had two sons with his wife Mechelle, and he split his time between a farm in Mississippi and Nashville.

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Family Life - McNair had two sons with his wife Mechelle, and he split his time between a farm in Mississippi and Nashville.

Air McNair - Nicknamed Air McNair, he was best known for his years with the Tennessee Titans.

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Air McNair - Nicknamed Air McNair, he was best known for his years with the Tennessee Titans.

College Football - McNair played college football at Alcorn State, where he won the 1994 Walter Payton Award as the top player in NCAA Division I-AA. He was drafted third overall by the NFL's Houston Oilers in 1995.

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College Football - McNair played college football at Alcorn State, where he won the 1994 Walter Payton Award as the top player in NCAA Division I-AA. He was drafted third overall by the NFL's Houston Oilers in 1995.

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Starting Quarterback - He became the Oilers' 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 until 2005.

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Starting Quarterback - He became the Oilers' 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 until 2005.

Traded to the Ravens - After the 2005 season, McNair was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. He played with the team for two seasons before retiring after 13 NFL seasons.

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Traded to the Ravens - After the 2005 season, McNair was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. He played with the team for two seasons before retiring after 13 NFL seasons.

A Beast on the Field - McNair led the Titans to the playoffs four times, and the Ravens once, and played in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Titans. He is the Titans’ all-time leading passer. McNair was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, and was All-Pro and Co-MVP in 2003.

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A Beast on the Field - McNair led the Titans to the playoffs four times, and the Ravens once, and played in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Titans. He is the Titans’ all-time leading passer. McNair was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, and was All-Pro and Co-MVP in 2003.

Retirement - McNair announced his retirement in April 2008, ending a 13-year career in which he was selected co-MVP, led the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl and orchestrated the most successful regular season in the Ravens’ history. "My mind was there. Mentally, I could go out and play. But physically, I couldn't do it anymore."

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Retirement - McNair announced his retirement in April 2008, ending a 13-year career in which he was selected co-MVP, led the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl and orchestrated the most successful regular season in the Ravens’ history. "My mind was there. Mentally, I could go out and play. But physically, I couldn't do it anymore."

Tributes - McNair's family, friends, ex-teammates, former coaches and wife will celebrate him at a memorial service Thursday with his close friend and pastor, Bishop Joseph W. Walker III (pictured), delivering the eulogy. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Mississippi.

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Tributes - McNair's family, friends, ex-teammates, former coaches and wife will celebrate him at a memorial service Thursday with his close friend and pastor, Bishop Joseph W. Walker III (pictured), delivering the eulogy. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Mississippi.