Steve McNair was murdered 16 years ago today
McNair was only 36 at the time.
The official explanation never made complete sense. Quickly solved as a murder-suicide, with McNair shot by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, who then supposedly shot herself.
Advertisement
The rush to close the case seemed odd. Police concluded that Kazemi shot McNair execution style, twice in the chest and twice in the head.
A subsequent effort to re-open the case ultimately failed. The issue was pressed by Vincent Hill, a former Nashville police officer who aggressively pursued the theory that it was not a murder-suicide.
In 2018, SI.com took a closer look at the unanswered questions in Fall of a Titan, a podcast series.
"I could make a case that things don't add up," former Titans coach Jeff Fisher said in a 2024 Netflix documentary on the McNair murder. "I don't want to speculate. Just let it go."
Advertisement
Even now, it's hard to let it go. It's hard not to wonder whether someone got away with double murder. And while that won't change the fact that McNair was killed on this day in 2009, there's a nagging sense that justice may not have been done.
McNair was the NFL's co-MVP in 2003, and he led the team to the Super Bowl in 1999.
The third overall pick in 1995 out of Alcorn State, McNair spent 13 seasons in the NFL — 11 with the Oilers/Titans and two with the Ravens. The Titans retired his number (9) in 2019.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
13 minutes ago
- USA Today
Ex-Titans OL Taylor Lewan recalls regretful moment vs. Steelers' James Harrison
When players retire from the NFL, they often talk about other players or matchups that left an imprint on their careers, or when together in a group they talk about specific players who challenged them, or had an intimidating reputation. One player that often comes up in conversations is Pittsburgh Steelers edge James Harrison. Harrison was not only intimidating, but his performances could be scary. The undrafted rookie's rise to become one of the most dominant players in league history is well-documented, and those who faced him in his prime will never forget their battles. That includes former Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, who got to meet the freight train early in his career and talked about the experience on the Bussin' with the Boys podcast. 'I played him my rookie year on Monday Night Football.' Lewan said on the podcast Bussin' with the Boys. 'Before the game started, all the offensive line were like, 'Hey, we know you like to chatter a little bit. Don't talk to this guy. Don't say a word to him. Just leave him alone. Hopefully he stays asleep during the game.' But it's like Monday Night Football. I'm hyped up. I'm juiced up. 'I'm ready to make a name for myself. So, three plays into the game, something happens. I'm like, 'I'm here all day,' whatever dumbass comment I make. 'I'm here all fucking day.' And he doesn't say a word to me.' Even though Lewan was facing an older Harrison, what transpired that night left a lasting impression on the young offensive tackle. Harrison did not let the trash-talking just disappear into the night. 'Then, like he kind of lines up in a four (technique), and I'm like, 'I'm about to cut off this dude so fast.' And I go to cut him off, I go to put an arm up. He drops down to the ground and just grabs my ankle and starts gator rolling. Starts gator rolling me. And right then and there, I thought, 'Okay, yeah, it might be over for me.' It might be over for this conversation the rest of the game." That game during Week 11 of the 2014 season struck a chord with Lewan, who went on to have a successful career with the Titans, earning three Pro Bowl selections before retiring in 2022.
USA Today
13 minutes ago
- USA Today
Former Iowa football great named one of greatest NFL draft picks ever
If you ask any current or former NFL general manager what one of the most underrated aspects of teambuilding is, they'll probably bring up day three picks in the draft. Those fourth through seventh round picks are the ones that provide the necessary depth for teams to make deep runs in January. But they can also produce star players as well, like Tom Brady, Terrell Davis and Jason Kelce. Numerous former Hawkeyes have been taken in these rounds and a few of them have turned into stars, with one Hawk receiving high praise from ESPN. Ben Solak, a writer at ESPN, put together a list of the best NFL draft pick at every draft slot from 1-262. The list is a who's who of some of the greatest NFL players of all time and one former Iowa football star who was drafted on day three got a spot on the list. George Kittle was drafted with the 146th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and Solak selected him as the greatest 146th overall pick ever. One of the most loaded picks outside of the top 50 is No. 146, which saw Vikings WR Stefon Diggs (2015), Ravens edge Matthew Judon (2016) and Kittle (2017) drafted in consecutive years. Throw in Eagles DE Trent Cole (2005) and Washington QB Mark Rypien (1986) and you have an unbelievable group of midround selections. Kittle gets the nod for me. He has spent his entire career with the 49ers and has made the Pro Bowl in six of eight possible seasons and made an All-Pro team in five of the eight. The fact that Diggs and Judon both had their career-best seasons with teams other than the ones that drafted them makes a difference, too. Let's revisit in a few more years and debate it all again. - Ben Solak, ESPN. Kittle played at Iowa from 2013-2016 and his stats don't jump off the page. In 40 career games, he had 48 receptions for 737 yards and ten receiving touchdowns. Despite lackluster production in college, Kittle's size (6-foot-4 247 pound) and blocking prowess were enough for the San Francisco 49er's to take a flyer on him in 2017. And that pick has paid dividends ever since. Across eight seasons in the red and gold, Kittle is a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All Pro. He's played in 113 games for the Niners and has 538 receptions, 7380 receiving yards and 45 receiving touchdowns. He's 14th in all-time receiving yards by a tight end in the NFL and is just 600 yards away from cracking the top-ten of that list. Kittle has turned into one of the greatest tight ends of his generation and is very deserving of his spot on Solak's list. Not too shabby for a fifth-round pick.
Fox News
18 minutes ago
- Fox News
New York Republican insists middle-class, lower-income voters are big winners with Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'
All times eastern Special Report with Bret Baier Legends & Lies: The Patriots Legends & Lies: The Patriots Fox Business in Depth: Red, White and Blue Collar/Dagen McDowell Fox Business In Depth: "Reenergizing America" FOX News Radio Live Channel Coverage
