This makes me almost physically ill. I wasn’t a Titans fan per se, but I admired his work ethic and his devotion to his sport. Pool report from AP, ESPN:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 4) — Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair and a woman were found shot to death Saturday afternoon inside a condominium in downtown Nashville, police said. Police spokesman Don Aaron said authorities were still investigating the shootings and that no suspects were in custody.“I don’t have any answers for you now as to what’s happened, who’s responsible,” Aaron said. Aaron said the 36-year-old McNair died of a gunshot wound to the head. He said police tentatively identified the woman, but did not release her name…McNair played 13 seasons in the NFL and led the Titans within a yard of forcing overtime in the 2000 Super Bowl, which they lost 23-16 to the St. Louis Rams. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens before retiring in April 2008…“We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair’s passing today,” Titans owner Bud Adams said in a statement. “He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl.”McNair began his career in 1995 with the Houston Oilers, who eventually became the Titans, and finished with 31,304 yards passing and 174 touchdowns. McNair played with pain for several years, and the injuries ultimately forced him to retire.McNair’s most noted drive was the final one of the 2000 Super Bowl. He drove the Titans 87 yards in the final minute, 48 seconds, only to come up a yard short of the tying touchdown. Kevin Dyson caught his 9-yard pass, but was tackled at the 1-yard line by the Rams’ Mike Jones. McNair accounted for all of Tennessee’s yards in that drive, throwing for 48 yards and rushing for 14. The rest of the yardage came on penalties against the Rams. Before that, he brought the Titans back from a 16-0 deficit to tie the game.“The people who didn’t know Steve McNair before will know him now,” Tennessee tight end Frank Wycheck said after the game. “Did you see that desire? Did you see that heart?”During a five-game stretch at the end of the 2002 season, McNair was so bruised he couldn’t practice. But he started all five games and won them, leading the Titans to an 11-5 finish and a berth in the AFC championship game for the second time in four seasons. McNair played all 16 games in 2006, his first season in Baltimore, and guided the Ravens to a 13-3 record. But he injured his groin during the season opener last season and never regained the form that enabled him to earn a berth in four Pro Bowls.
An incredible shame.
McNair was a system-type quarterback, playing out of the run-and-shoot in college for a tiny Division II school. Jeff Fisher sat him for two years, then put him in charge of his run-oriented offense. McNair followed suit, going from splashy stat-racking uber-slinger to gutty, win-by-grit leader. Few could have made that transition and many quarterbacks with better pedigrees failed in McNair’s wake.
The Rams/Titans Super Bowl is still my favorite. The late 90s/early 00s Rams teams were fascinating to watch, particularly with emotional Dick Vermeil at the helm. Watching underdog hero Kurt Warner duel with McNair was magnificent. The last two minutes of that game are still the greatest of any Super Bowl. Warner airing it deep, barely avoiding a charging Jevon Kearse, and somehow finding Issac Bruce screeching down the sideline. But McNair fired back, with Eddie George by his side. Fittingly, the game was decided by one second and one yard. As wiser man than I once said, there was no losers that day – there were the victors and the vanquished.
McNair played old-school-style football, always had the highest respect for that. RIP, Mc, RIP.
I just read a new headline that says the police are now calling this a case of “homicide.” Gosh, d’ya think?
This makes me sad.