Revisiting Steve McNair: From HBCU Heisman Hopeful to Tragic Death

“They kept labeling McNair the toughest man in the NFL.”

Brad Hopkins, who played tackle for the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans from 1993-2005, describes Steve McNair in this way during ‘Untold: The Murder of Air McNair’ on Netflix. It’s a fitting sentiment for a man who left an indelible mark on football history.

‘Untold: The Murder of Air McNair’ attempts to split McNair’s story into two intertwining timelines. It contrasts his meteoric rise on the field with the tragic events of his death on July 4, 2009. McNair was only 36 years old at the time, and even 15 years later, his memory persists.

The documentary explores various facets of McNair’s life and untimely demise.

McNair was a legend at Alcorn State. Alcorn State teammate Robert Gaddy recalls, “There were going to be two or three plays a game where he did something remarkable.” This extraordinary talent earned McNair the nickname “Air McNair.” He ranks among the greatest HBCU players ever.

Between 1991 and 1994, McNair amassed 14,496 passing yards, 2,327 rushing yards, and 152 total touchdowns. During the 1994 season alone, he threw for 5,377 yards and 47 touchdowns while also rushing for 904 yards. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, trailing only Colorado’s Rashaan Salaam and Penn State’s Ki-Jana Carter.

McNair’s prowess caught the attention of the Houston Oilers, and former Titans coach Jeff Fisher is a prominent voice throughout the documentary. The Oilers picked McNair third overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. McNair became the face of the franchise when it relocated to Nashville and rebranded as the Tennessee Titans. Alongside running back Eddie George, McNair quickly transformed the Titans into an AFC contender under Fisher’s leadership.

The 1999 season, punctuated by the famous “Music City Miracle” against Buffalo, catapulted the Titans into Super Bowl XXXIV. McNair rallied Tennessee to within a hair’s breadth of a game-tying touchdown, but receiver Kevin Dyson was stopped just short of the goal line by Kevin Jones on the final play. The St. Louis Rams secured a 23-16 victory, yet McNair’s legend only grew from that moment.

McNair’s brilliance continued in the 2003 season when he shared the AP NFL MVP award with Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning. Both quarterbacks earned 16 votes after leading their respective teams to a 12-4 record. McNair left the Titans after the 2005 season and played his final two seasons with Baltimore before retiring.

The most heart-wrenching portion of the documentary covers McNair’s shocking murder on July 4, 2009. Nashville Police discovered that Sahel “Jenni” Kazemi, McNair’s girlfriend at the time, had shot him four times before taking her own life. The documentary heavily focuses on Kazemi and her relationship with McNair, revisiting the events leading up to his tragic death.

Nashville police investigator Charles Robinson and reporter Amy Viteri recount the investigation, and private investigator Vincent Hill questions whether other suspects should have been considered. Still, 15 years later, the initial conclusions remain unchanged.

Interviews with Hopkins and Fisher offer emotional insights into the profound loss. ‘The Murder of Air McNair’ serves more as a remembrance of McNair’s legacy than a true-crime exposé, retelling the story of an NFL star whose life ended far too soon, leaving behind a legacy of admiration and unanswered questions.

Source: Various