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Home » Sports » American Football
Former NFL quarterback McNair killed in Tennessee
July 5, 2009, Sunday
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Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, who led his team to the 2000 Super Bowl, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds to the head yesterday.
Police said a 20-year-old woman, Sahel Kazemi, who was described as a "friend" of McNair was also dead. She had a single gunshot to the head and a gun was found near her body in the downtown condominium.
Police said the 36-year-old McNair was found on the sofa in the living room, and Kazemi was very close to him on the floor.
Police spokesman Don Aaron said McNair's wife, Mechelle, is "very distraught."
"At this juncture, we do not believe she is involved," he said. "Nothing has been ruled out, but as far as actively looking for a suspect tonight, the answer would be no."
McNair played 13 seasons and was best known for his stint with the Tennessee Titans before retiring in April 2008.
The bodies were discovered Saturday afternoon by McNair's longtime friend Wayne Neeley, who said he rents the condo, in the expensive Rutlege Hill neighborhood, with McNair.
Aaron said Neeley told authorities he went into the condo, walked first into the kitchen before going into the living room where he saw blood, then McNair on the sofa and Kazemi on the floor.
Neeley then called a friend, who alerted authorities.
Police said a witness saw McNair arrive at the condo between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Saturday and that Kazemi's vehicle was already there.
Two days ago, Nashville police arrested Kazemi on a drink-driving charge while driving a car registered to her and McNair. McNair was in the front seat, but didn't break the law and was allowed to leave by taxi.
The arrest affidavit said Kazemi had bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol on her breath, but refused a breathalyzer test, saying "she was not drunk, she was high."
Fred McNair, Steve McNair's oldest brother, said some family members likely will travel to Nashville on Monday to consult with Steve McNair's wife.
"It's still kind of hard to believe," Fred McNair said. "He was the greatest person in the world. He gave back to the community. He loved kids and he wanted to be a role model to kids."
He said he did not know who Kazemi was.
McNair and his family frequented the restaurant where Kazemi was a waitress, according employees and patrons of Dave & Buster's in Nashville. Keith Norfleet, Kazemi's ex-boyfriend, told The Tennessean newspaper that McNair and Kazemi met at the restaurant.
"She was reliable 90 percent of the time," manager Chris Truelove said of Kazemi. "She was pretty outgoing. A lot of the guests liked being around her, and she liked being around the guests."
Co-worker Shantez Jobe, 33, she said was friends with Kazemi.
"We talked about who had more fashion sense, and who was the cutest, and who could get more boys, you know some of the stuff girls do," Jobe said.
In June, McNair opened a restaurant near the Tennessee State University campus. It was closed Saturday evening, but had become a small memorial, where flowers, candles and notes had been placed outside the door.
"It is a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to the families involved," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell 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," Titans owner Bud Adams said in a statement. "He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl."
McNair, a four-time Pro Bowler, 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 and was co-MVP of the NFL in 2003.
His most noted drive, the last one in that Super Bowl, came when he led the Titans 87 yards in the final minute and 48 seconds, only to come up a yard short of the tying touchdown. Kevin Dyson caught his last pass, but was tackled at the 1-yard line.
McNair accounted for all of Tennessee's yards in that drive, throwing for 48 yards and rushing for 14 with the rest of the yardage coming from penalties. Before that, he brought the Titans back from a 16-0 deficit to tie the game.
"If you were going to draw a football player, the physical part, the mental part, everything about being a professional, he is your guy," former Ravens and Titans teammate Samari Rolle said. "I can't even wrap my arms around it. It is a sad, sad day. The world lost a great man today."
McNair began his NFL 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.
"On the field, there isn't player that was as tough as him, especially at the quarterback position," the Ravens' Derrick Mason said. "What I have seen him play through on the field, and what he dealt with during the week to get ready for a game, I have never known a better teammate."
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 his best.
"He was a player who I admired a great deal," said New England Patriots senior football adviser Floyd Reese, who was GM of the Titans when McNair played for them. "He was a tremendous leader and an absolute warrior. He felt like it was his responsibility to lead by working hard every day, no matter what."
Police said a 20-year-old woman, Sahel Kazemi, who was described as a "friend" of McNair was also dead. She had a single gunshot to the head and a gun was found near her body in the downtown condominium.
Police said the 36-year-old McNair was found on the sofa in the living room, and Kazemi was very close to him on the floor.
Police spokesman Don Aaron said McNair's wife, Mechelle, is "very distraught."
"At this juncture, we do not believe she is involved," he said. "Nothing has been ruled out, but as far as actively looking for a suspect tonight, the answer would be no."
McNair played 13 seasons and was best known for his stint with the Tennessee Titans before retiring in April 2008.
The bodies were discovered Saturday afternoon by McNair's longtime friend Wayne Neeley, who said he rents the condo, in the expensive Rutlege Hill neighborhood, with McNair.
Aaron said Neeley told authorities he went into the condo, walked first into the kitchen before going into the living room where he saw blood, then McNair on the sofa and Kazemi on the floor.
Neeley then called a friend, who alerted authorities.
Police said a witness saw McNair arrive at the condo between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Saturday and that Kazemi's vehicle was already there.
Two days ago, Nashville police arrested Kazemi on a drink-driving charge while driving a car registered to her and McNair. McNair was in the front seat, but didn't break the law and was allowed to leave by taxi.
The arrest affidavit said Kazemi had bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol on her breath, but refused a breathalyzer test, saying "she was not drunk, she was high."
Fred McNair, Steve McNair's oldest brother, said some family members likely will travel to Nashville on Monday to consult with Steve McNair's wife.
"It's still kind of hard to believe," Fred McNair said. "He was the greatest person in the world. He gave back to the community. He loved kids and he wanted to be a role model to kids."
He said he did not know who Kazemi was.
McNair and his family frequented the restaurant where Kazemi was a waitress, according employees and patrons of Dave & Buster's in Nashville. Keith Norfleet, Kazemi's ex-boyfriend, told The Tennessean newspaper that McNair and Kazemi met at the restaurant.
"She was reliable 90 percent of the time," manager Chris Truelove said of Kazemi. "She was pretty outgoing. A lot of the guests liked being around her, and she liked being around the guests."
Co-worker Shantez Jobe, 33, she said was friends with Kazemi.
"We talked about who had more fashion sense, and who was the cutest, and who could get more boys, you know some of the stuff girls do," Jobe said.
In June, McNair opened a restaurant near the Tennessee State University campus. It was closed Saturday evening, but had become a small memorial, where flowers, candles and notes had been placed outside the door.
"It is a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to the families involved," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell 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," Titans owner Bud Adams said in a statement. "He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl."
McNair, a four-time Pro Bowler, 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 and was co-MVP of the NFL in 2003.
His most noted drive, the last one in that Super Bowl, came when he led the Titans 87 yards in the final minute and 48 seconds, only to come up a yard short of the tying touchdown. Kevin Dyson caught his last pass, but was tackled at the 1-yard line.
McNair accounted for all of Tennessee's yards in that drive, throwing for 48 yards and rushing for 14 with the rest of the yardage coming from penalties. Before that, he brought the Titans back from a 16-0 deficit to tie the game.
"If you were going to draw a football player, the physical part, the mental part, everything about being a professional, he is your guy," former Ravens and Titans teammate Samari Rolle said. "I can't even wrap my arms around it. It is a sad, sad day. The world lost a great man today."
McNair began his NFL 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.
"On the field, there isn't player that was as tough as him, especially at the quarterback position," the Ravens' Derrick Mason said. "What I have seen him play through on the field, and what he dealt with during the week to get ready for a game, I have never known a better teammate."
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 his best.
"He was a player who I admired a great deal," said New England Patriots senior football adviser Floyd Reese, who was GM of the Titans when McNair played for them. "He was a tremendous leader and an absolute warrior. He felt like it was his responsibility to lead by working hard every day, no matter what."
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