He asked how somebody could do this to his daddy. She would lean on her friends, who dropped everything to be with her in Nashville, or cry to her aunts and uncles. Nine years later, it's still hard for him to talk about McNair. He sees flashes of his friend, and it helps him stay close to him. "[People] always say, 'Oh, I admire you so much. According to his wife, Michele, the will that his agent claimed was drawn up has been lost. At that point, Mechelle had a boyfriend and was only focused on pursuing a career in the medical field as a doctor. She doesn't want to go through any more pain. But Fred was more,Fred would pick you apart. Time, if you handle it right, has a way of filtering out the bad memories but leaving the good. That was meand God.". Without a doubt, she must have inherited a portion of her husband's fortune. McNair and the Titans reached the AFC Championship game but were unable to reach the Super Bowl, losing to the Oakland Raiders 4124. [33], His cousin is NFL linebacker Demario Davis. He was quiet until you knew him, and he waited a while to talk to her. Mechelle could handle algebra and first crushes, but sometimes, a boy needs a male figure in his life. The tabloids fed off the story and ran photos of McNair vacationing with the young waitress and texts they sent to each other in their final hours. Mechelle sits in the stands and yells at him to "keep your face straight." He loved us. Fred and Timboth played football, and younger brother Steve was magic,in both footballand baseball. The widow of Steve, Mechelle's net worth is estimated at around $450 Thousand as of 2019, which is similar to the model Karizma Ramirez. "She just had it made, you . He did annoying things, peeking at her test answers, sticking his giant feet on her book bag. In addition, McNair won the Walter Payton Award as the top I-AA player and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Rashaan Salaam and Ki-Jana Carter. Times when the family would pair up in teams and wrestle, Mechelle and Tyler on one side; Trent and Steve on the other. Just 24 hours earlier, McNair had taken his sons fishing. McNair played with the Titans franchise for 11 seasons before finishing his career with the Baltimore Ravens (200608). She never played. McNair was selected to the Pro Bowl four times, and was an All-Pro and Co-MVP in 2003. He announced his retirement following the 2007 season. Things around the McNair family have been tense, to say the least, since Steve passed in 2009. One year after former Tennessee Titans star Steve McNair was shot and killed, details emerge about the life of Sahel Kazemi, the woman who police say pulled the trigger then turned the gun on herself. The closest town, if you want to call it that, is Lorman, a community with one known claim to fame, the Old Country Store, which serves fried chicken that people drive hours for. She made faces at him to try to get him to stop. No, I did not." "I know he's in his head," Steve would tell Mechelle. Well, thats when the drama started between his wife and mom. Ordered To Return Faith Evans' $164K Mercedes After Joyriding To Coachella, Michael Jackson's Mother Katherine Jackson Battles With Pop Star's Estate Over Secret Deal. [12] McNair did not see his first action until the last two series of the fourth quarter in a November game versus the Cleveland Browns. Mechelle didn't particularly want to go to such a tiny school. It's his way of being around his brother still. Tyler believes it's the same thing his dad would have said. Everyone changed. Here Are The 7 Best Date Night Restaurants in Cleveland! The boys are constantly chasing a ghost, a man who, in death, is still the biggest sports legend in Nashville. McNair missed nine more games during the rest of the season, due primarily to injury, only starting in six games. Trent shows flashes of great talent at quarterback, but he won't play the position. It has been exactly ten years of Steve's demise. [42] The bodies were discovered by McNair's friends Wayne Neely and Robert Gaddy, who called 911. [7] McNair was the first AfricanAmerican quarterback to win AP NFL MVP and remains, along with Cam Newton, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson, only one of four to win the award. "I didn't know about her at all," Mechelle says. Just 24 hours earlier, McNair had taken his sons fishing. According to his wife, Michele, the will that his agent claimed was drawn up has been lost. "I didn't know about her at all," Mechelle says. [20], The 2006 season saw McNair start each game for the Ravens, missing only portions of two games. In happy times, they belted out SWV songs in Mechelle's little, red, two-seater Mercedes, his tiny head bobbing to the music. Nobody knew where he was. Nice Mini-Skirt: Why is Young Thug Wearing It? Everyone changed. He didn't just turn out all right. Sometimes, when she's rushing to a game or going to Bible study, it hits her -- the absence of tears and drama, the return to normal. Today, his estate is still dealing with his lack of planning. "Don't go," Tyler and Trent told him. Nothing's going to change how I feel about my husband. When you walk into Lucille McNair's memory room,it's hard not be overwhelmed with the accomplishments of her sons, especially the oneknown as Steve "Air" McNair; alegacy she says beganwhen Steve was a young boy,following in the footsteps of his older brother Fred. I've gotta keep going." McNair was in the passenger seat and Vent Gordon, a chef at a restaurant McNair owned, was in the back seat. She stood up, the pain radiated from the right side of her skull, and she had to lie back down. On July 4, 2009, the former Titans player was found in his downtown Nashville condo with multiple gunshot wounds alongside his mistress, Sahel Jenni Kazemi. Mechelle says she could hear Steve's footsteps in the house sometimes. "You're going to have people who say, 'Oh, she knew.' In 2007, McNair did not play in Week 2 against the Jets in which the Ravens won 2013. Tyler, right, and Trent served as honorary 12th Titans in a November game against the Baltimore Ravens. He took care of us. Everyone wanted to know what Mechelle was feeling. She never worried about that with Tyler, but for some reason, she thinks about it now that it's just her and Trent. 9 and Eddie George's No. The pressure to be Steve McNair's son weighs heavily. That drove Mechelle nuts, the waking up in the middle of the night. (She was never a suspect). He did annoying things, peeking at her test answers, sticking his giant feet on her book bag. Pat Boone, a singer from the 1950s, eventually bought the home. Similarly, Tyler James McNair was born in 1999 and is currently 20 years old. Two of their children are sons named Trenton John McNair, who was born in 2004, and his age is 15 years old as of 2019. Regardless of how he left here, I know he loved us. "Just stay focused and move on up. The boys call Mu "Uncle Mike." I always have thought Steve got his toughness from his mother. [6], McNair had two sons by Mechelle: Tyler and Trenton; and two sons Steve LaTreal McNair Jr. and Steven O'Brian McNair by two other women before they married. There wasn't anything those children wanted that he didn't get for them. She doesn't want to be a hindrance to him. Deadly Recall: Air McNair is an episode that examines the life, slaying, and aftermath of renowned NFL quarterback Stephen McNair, who died at the age of 36 and left behind a shocked family and fanbase. The Steve McNair Foundation, Inc. 209 10th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37218 The Steve McNair Foundation Teams With the NFL Youth Football Fund for $100,000 in Katrina Relief. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens. She was slow to trust after her husband's death and never remarried. She loves taking care of people. "Most of the time I really don't hear it that much, but when I do, it's a little bit embarrassing. He kissed Mechelle and told her he loved her, too. In the winter of 2016, Tyler was one of the best basketball players at Brentwood Academy, a Christian school with a powerhouse basketball program. God and her friends and family who cooked and took the kids swimming and handled everything. To Mechelle, he was sort of a gentle giant, romantic enough to hide an engagement ring in a piece of strawberry cake, country enough to skin a deer and cook it up for his teammates. McNair was known for his tenacity in playing through injuries and his dexterity as a scrambler or passer. He sat behind her in class and constantly flirted. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. You're so strong,'" Mechelle says. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. So this week we sat down with Steve McNair's mother. Before everything changed. When news of his death flashed on the TV screen, Cartwright rushed through the house to Mechelle's room. [8], McNair was born in a small tin-roofed house in Mount Olive, Mississippi on February 14, 1973. When the police arrived, his corpse was on the couch with . Trent, pictured right, was 5. "I had it in my mindbut I didn't tell nobody. He told them to find something they loved and to do it well. Mu was the one who took them to father-son breakfasts and NBA games. She was so happy at the end of their talk, when he said she could attend the next employee meeting. Mechelle was born in 1973 in the USA. In the divisional playoff round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, McNair threw for a career postseason high 338 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions, while rushing for 29 yards and another score on the ground. If I'm playing football and I hear her, I kind of just ignore it. Maybe they would have been anyway, had Steve McNair not been killed. Omissions? McNair was shot and killed on the Fourth of July by Sahel Kazemi, a 20-year-old girlfriend who then shot herself in the head. "What's my purpose? McNair was known as one of the toughest players in the NFL. Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair He attended Mount Olive High School as a freshman in the fall of 1987, where he played football, baseball, and basketball in addition to running track. She stood up, the pain radiated from the right side of her skull, and she had to lie back down. ", McNair was known as one of the toughest players in the NFL. By The Associated Press PUBLISHED: July 11, 2009 at 2:24 p . But I'm not going to hell blaming somebody or having the hate and animosity in my heart. Tyler came home for about a month, but he wasn't really there. They got married in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1997, and a year later, Tyler came along. Mechelle knows life will change again soon, when Trent gets his driver's license. This time, against the St. Louis Rams in the biggest game of his life, McNair helped to turn Super Bowl XXXIV into a circus-like affair. Piller likes to mess with Trent sometimes and tells him he could probably jump higher if he'd cut his long hair. Trent shows flashes of great talent at quarterback, but he won't play the position. Well, that's when the drama started between his wife and mom. I can't wallow in it. From that moment on, she could not let her children see her break down. "He would just come home and be, like, dead," Tyler says. I'm not going to do it." "He never cried, not once," Mrs. McNair. But McNair was persistent. They are best friends. "At the end of the day, that's my husband," she says. Lucille says Steve gave freely of his time,his talents and his money. From that moment on, she could not let her children see her break down. He's going to kick the world's ass. Steve McNair's No.9 jersey will be retired during a halftime ceremony during Sunday's home opener against the Indianapolis Colts. [35] Kazemi and McNair had been previously involved with each other romantically. The fact that he was the quarterback everyone on campus was talking about held no currency with Mechelle. Nine years after Mechelle McNair's world caved in, her oldest son, Tyler, is going to NYU on an academic scholarship. When people say that to me, I'm always like, 'Where are they getting this from?' The Titans opened the playoffs at home against the Buffalo Bills in a Wild Card game, winning on the "Music City Miracle" and eventually advancing to Super Bowl XXXIV in a rematch with the Rams. Then there was Mike Mu, a longtime family friend who used to run McNair's foundation. The pressure to be Steve McNair's son weighs heavily. She wanted to see him so she could help him. Tyler, who is majoring in biology at NYU while continuing to pursue his dancing dreams, forged a path so different from his father's. In 2011, a legal spat between Mechelle and Lucille over property in Mississippi played out in the local news media. So, there is not much information about what she do for a living. The 2009 murder of Steve McNair: Cops say Kazemi's unraveling life led to murder-suicide. They are best friends. When you walk into Lucille McNair's memory room, it's hard not be overwhelmed with the accomplishments of her sons, especially the one known as Steve "Air" McNair; a legacy she says began when Steve was a young boy, following in the footsteps of his older brother Fred. The house actually had been on the market before McNair died, but then the housing crisis hit, and it bounced on and off the listings for four years. They are all in our thoughts and prayers. Here, let's have a glance over her marital life with her late husband. But plans change. She tried to explain to the boys what had happened, the best she could, but Trent wanted to read about his father in the paper. "I don't think he's doing that, but I want him to see me doing something where he feels like he has a drive.". But now one of them is leaving, and Mechelle is just trying not to lose it. "[38] There was also a conversation about financial issues where McNair transferred $2,000 to Kazemi, who claimed she was "stressed" and needed to pay her phone bill. Did I know about some other people and some other things? She said she couldn't bear to lose both of them. The vision of a 10-year-old boy holding a knife was like a cold bucket of water in the face. He tried to do both at first, but soon it was too much. Elyria Parent Sprays Elementary School Principal With Mace, Faces Felony, Become and DJ for Day Plus win $500 from Z1079. When he's at school, he FaceTimes with her at least once a day, so it's almost as if she sees him more when he's in New York. [43] The Nashville police declared McNair's death a murder-suicide, with Kazemi as the perpetrator and McNair as the victim. But her sons were terrified and confused. 3 in the NFL draft. Nobody knew where he was. She would lean on her friends, who dropped everything to be with her in Nashville, or cry to her aunts and uncles. Corrections? [22] However, on June 7, 2006, the two teams worked out a deal to send McNair to the Ravens for a 4th-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. When it hit her, she fell to the floor, screaming. "He was a good dad. But her sons were terrified and confused. ", Tyler, right, and Trent served as honorary 12th Titans in a November game against the Baltimore Ravens. [28], McNair was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020. But when she saw how committed Tyler was to dance, she told him to do what makes him happy. He said he had to go, and kissed the boys goodbye. Their normal. Mechelle had just found out. We care about your data. Read More: How Did Mike Tysons Daughter Die? There were good times, too. He split time between his home in Nashville and his farm in Collins, Mississippi. She has thought about becoming a foster parent. In the worst times, she kept both of her little boys beside her in bed, where she could keep them close and safe. The old home had too many memories. Following Steves tragic passing, save for a public statement expressing her gratitude for the love she and her family were receiving, Mechelle refused to give interviews or speak about the matter. Did I know about some other people and some other things? "Honestly, the most I've ever felt like a child is this year," Tyler says. She and her sons settled into a house surrounded by trees and the occasional deer that plops down in the middle of the yard. See our privacy policy. He made at least $90 million in salary over his 13-year career with the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and. But if I'm playing basketball, I kind of look up there and tell her to sshhhhh." "I'll be back in a little while," he said. But it gets worse, she told Steves mom to pay $3,000 rent or get the hell out! Right now, my mom's here with me, but like when Trent's gone off to school and meets somebody, and then my mom, who knows how long -- I'm not saying who's going to go before who because that's not necessarily true -- but she's older. At the time, it was considered one of the biggest funerals in the state. NEW YORK (CBS) "Im gonna have all of u soon," Sahel Kazemi texted Steve McNair, her married lover and former NFL star,. As a matter of fact, Steve shares two children named Steve LaTreal McNair Jr. and Steven O' Brian McNair with two other women whose names are not disclosed. Her mother, Melzena Cartwright, saw the news on TV. just standing in the pocket," said Lucille. He said he couldn't live without his daddy and wanted to kill himself. Mechelle grabbed him and told him to stop. His blood alcohol was above 0.10, and a 9-mm handgun was sitting in the front of the car. Courtesy Mechelle McNair He pictured his dad sitting in a pew, his leg sticking out in the aisle because the seat was too small for his giant body. Mechelle is asked whether she thinks they'd be this close had McNair lived. He said he couldn't live without his daddy and wanted to kill himself. But did I know about her? Regardless of how he left here, I know he loved us. Tyler, who was 10, started crying. She doesn't want to be a hindrance to him. [16] All charges related to the incident were later dropped.[6]. After thirteen seasons in the NFL, McNair announced his retirement from professional football in April 2008. Sahel Kazemi allegedly shot and killed Steve McNair, then herself. [6][11], He was a member of the fraternity Omega Psi Phi, highlighting his allegiance by tattooing "Omega Man" on his arm. Sometimes, when she's rushing to a game or going to Bible study, it hits her -- the absence of tears and drama, the return to normal. MOUNT OLIVE, Miss - (WJTV) Next Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of the death of legendary Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair. Tyler graduated from Brentwood in the spring. But plans change. His life was cut short on July 4, 2009, but his legacy lives onin family and those who knew him best. During the 2009 NFL season, every member of the Titans wore a commemorative "9" sticker placed on the back of each helmet to honor McNair. I've gotta keep going.". She didn't usually get as much . "I look at Tyler," she says, "and he knows exactly what his passion is. She said she couldn't bear to lose both of them. After the death of her husband, she has not married nor has any relationship with other men. Her mother, Melzena Cartwright, saw the news on TV. [27], McNair's number was retired by the Titans during a halftime ceremony against the Indianapolis Colts on September 15, 2019. He leaned on his mother, Mechelle, and Tyler, at left. Yet, Steves persistence and personality won her over, so she found herself leaving the state with him after graduation to support his NFL career. Brett Favre and Ray Lewis and Jay Cutler showed up for the funeral. I feel like I'm the weakest person sometimes. Early in the season, McNair was diagnosed with an inflamed disk following the Titans' 3635 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and needed surgery. This past summer, Mechelle and her sons visited Lucille in Mississippi. Here was an NFL quarterback one season into retirement, a former co-MVP and a Super Bowl participant, murdered. She received her degree in nursing years ago. But McNair was persistent. He accumulated this hefty amount of money from his career as a talented NFL player. Mechelle had always considered herself a private person. I'm just pushing forward. Every season, Mechelle sends Trent's basketball schedule to Mu and to Zach Piller. Trent is headstrong and stubborn and has a bit of a temper. She was slow to trust after her husband's death and never remarried. When he headed back east after winter break, Trent refused to go to the airport because he didn't want to cry. She is a spiritual woman who thanks God every morning for waking up and for allowing the rest of her family to wake up, too. However, McNair later bailed Kazemi out of jail. A post shared by Trent McNair (@trentmac9).

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