In July 2009, Steve McNair was killed in a strange murder-suicide that involved his mistress, Sahel Kazemi. Steve was 6 feet 2 inches (74inches) tall and weighed 104 kg (229lbs). We talked about our trip to New York City after that incredible senior season. Soonafter, they began a relationship. That money and all future payments to the sons will be placed in the trusts. Growing up in Mount Olive, McNair learned about farming, house. I love you son., Ms Lucille, i pray for u every time i think of Steve yes you are right the mistake he made did cost him is life. She shot McNair four times, police said. "Somebody has been shot," he told the dispatcher. His dad would say if they ever wanted to do something other than sports, let them do it. I was praying. McNair was hesitant to leave his team as well. McNairwas 10 years old at the time. An ad was posted July 2 on Craigslist, where Kazemi was trying to sell her living room and kitchen furniture. Steve attended Mount Olive High School, where he was a talented baseball and football player. / CBS NEWS, First published on October 20, 2009 / 1:51 PM. Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair has been killed. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Kazemi told police she had smoked from a hookah (water pipe) earlier in the night and had a buzz but that she wasn't drunk. "If she would have told us this and was depressed, I would've gone to help her and force her to come back if I had to. It was in the Escalade that police stopped Kazemi in the early hours of July 2 on Broadway. Brett Favre continues to have the ability to will his team to victory, which is exactly what he did in leading the Packers to a 31-24 win over the San Diego Chargers. Trenton and Tyler McNair, age 5 and 11 when their father was Kazemi told friends and family that her new boyfriend was going to get a divorce and marry her. Steven McNair was a 16-year-old junior the day I first saw him. On July 1, Kazemi had tried to buy a gun from Adrian Gilliam Jr., a man she had met outside Hooters on Second Avenue a few weeks earlier. His long frame and wingspan stand out from his female teammates. Gaddy said Neely panicked and didn't know what to do. That money and all But Gaddy never told the 911 operator McNair was one of the victims. On July 3, two days after she first asked him if he had a gun he could sell her, Kazemi called Gilliam to ask if he would bring it to her apartment. McNair, 36, leaves behind wife Mechelle, four sons, and a storied career as the Tennessee Titans favorite quarterback and the only one to guide the team to a Super Bowl. She told someone that night that her life was a ball of (expletive), and "I should just end it.". Kazemi's family had no inkling of the bills and there were no signs she was depressed, Abdi said. The Tennessean is republishing some key stories from the time around McNair's death. He had four brothers, Fred, Jason, Michael, and Tim. Dance helped him through hard times, like the death of his father. He was 6-foot-4,an athlete, the son of the late Titans quarterback Steve McNair, one of the biggest athletes to ever play sports in Nashville. Metro Nashville Police Department investigators determined that Kazemi killed the 36-year-old married man with whom she had been having a romantic relationship for more than six months and then killed herself. "She was only 20 years old, he cheated on her and on his wife, too. slain in 2009, stand to inherit millions more once the bulk of the He died far too young on July 4, 2009, murdered by a female companion who then committed suicide. He was one of five children born to Lucille and Selma McNair. Ive seen the films of him. McNair's death shocked the country on the Fourth of July in 2009. The team rehearses for a performance for a basketball game. "She was human, and she had her ups and downs. I was afraid hed regret it. I didnt want to disappoint my family., McNair added: In my mind, I had so much to prove. I would watch TV, like Dance Moms and stuff like that, and try to mirror what they would be doing.. McNair's stunning murder sent shockwaves through the NFL community. He led Mount Olive to a state championship victory, kicking off through the end zone to begin the game and never coming out of it. I would look up videos for turns, McNair said. Its not just for girls. I barely made it to the hospital. If you are at risk, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for support at 1-800-273-8255. Nashville judge Friday to put more than $1 million from the Subscribe to NFL on YouTube: https://goo.gl/VmTK0MFor all things NFL, visit the league's official website at http://www.nfl.com/Watch NFL Now: https://www.nfl.com/nowStart your free trial of NFL Game Pass: https://www.nfl.com/gamepassListen to NFL podcasts: http://www.nfl.com/podcastsFantasy Football: http://www.nfl.com/fantasyfootballWatch the NFL network: http://nflnonline.nfl.com/Download the NFL mobile app: https://www.nfl.com/apps2015 NFL Schedule: http://www.nfl.com/schedulesBuy tickets to watch your favorite team: http://www.nfl.com/ticketsShop NFL: http://www.nflshop.com/source/bm-nflcom-Header-Shop-TabLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NFLFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NFLFollow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/nfl/ In the next week, the Dolphins and Taylor get to run an option play, with each having multiple choices to make. "She was a vibrant young lady," Crystal Norfleet said. Reach Tommy Deas at 615-259-8328 and on Twitter @tommydeas. E:60 sits down with former Tennessee Titans QB Steve McNair's wife and son Tyler, who describe their feelings when they discovered Steve had been killed. Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE Watch Latest Episodes on WatchESPN: http://es.pn/LatestEpisodes Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTVGet more ESPN on YouTube: First Take: http://es.pn/FirstTakeonYouTube SC6 with Michael \u0026 Jemele: http://es.pn/SC6onYouTube SportsCenter with SVP: http://es/pn/SVPonYouTubeESPN on Social Media: Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/espn Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/espn Follow on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/espnVisit ESPN on YouTube to get up-to-the-minute sports news coverage, scores, highlights and commentary for NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, College Football, NCAA Basketball, soccer and more. One night, while he wrangled with the tough decision, his father appeared in . On July 2, she used Norfleets computer to post an ad on Craigslist, placing her kitchen and living room furniture for sale. Norfleet had been her boyfriend of four years when they broke up early this year. Sahel "Jenni" Kazemi was dressed in pink shorts with a pink tank topand a matching bow in her hair when, sometime in the early hours of July 4, 2009, police say,she fatallyshot Steve McNair twice in the head and twice more in the chest in a condominium on Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. At some point in June, Ignagni told investigators, she noticed a woman in a black Escalade following her after she left McNairs downtown condominium. On Thursday, several hours after her DUI arrest, she was in the parking lot in the middle of her shift at Dave & Buster's buying a gun. After basketball practicesusually done by 6 p.m.McNair headed to the schools dance studio by himself. She didn't know any better that she could leave everything behind.". They have also received money from the estate. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. This story was originally published on July 3, 2019. Mrs. McNair and I did not talk about that not on what would have been his 40th birthday. Ive always asked him, half-heartedlyjoking, if he wants to come back, Suedekum said. Staff writer Chris Echegaray also contributed to this report. He was 6-foot-4, an athlete, the son of the late Titans quarterback Steve McNair, one of the biggest athletes to ever play sports in Nashville. He was found dead with the body of a young woman, Sahel Kazemi, in a rented house at 105 Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. Death of Mechelle's Husband, Steve McNair It has been exactly ten years of Steve's demise. I was like, Please Lord, let us get this championship, he said. She was arrested for DUI on July 2 with her famous boyfriend in the passenger seat. Sahel Kazemi was 20 years old and swept up: He gave her a Cadillac Escalade for her birthday and took her on trips to places such as Key West, Fla., and Las Vegas. He could defend any position on the floor, saidBrentwood Academy basketball coach Hubie Smith. The boys had already received payments of $530,000 each. We know where he wants to be, and hes doing what he wants to do.. Basketball is a big commitment, and dance is such a big commitment. SI: True Crime's first narrative podcast,Steve McNair: Fall of a Titan will make you re-examine everything you think you know about the quarterback. She wont have any more relationship problems. former quarterback's estate is unfrozen. We talked about all the good work he did after Hurricane Katrina to help his home folks in South Mississippi. This year hes dancing there. And, she suspected McNair, who was married, was involved in a second affair. Dining reporters Mackensey Lunsford and Brad Schmitt are always eating well and making sure we do too. Editor's note: Sports Illustrated is releasing a podcast examining the death of former Titans quarterback Steve McNair. She went to jail while they were allowed to leave the scene. Maybe even a little before.". We can show him a really advanced jump or a really advanced skill of course his wing spanreally blows our mind because he has such a long carriage and such a long frame and he still can execute these things so beautifully and so well with power, Kennedy said. Mechelle said details were being worked out long. McNair was nervous at the state championships. The more that I saw that, the more, of course, I would watch that I would stay late just to watch, too, she said. Kazemi told friends it was a birthday gift, but police said they believe she was making the payments. Her family met him, and she told friends she had been to Mississippi to meet members of his family. His death, He feels joy. We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair's passing today . Steve McNair's No.9 jersey will be retired during a halftime ceremony during Sunday's home opener against the Indianapolis Colts. I couldnt mind-read her totally at that point but that to me seems to be it, he said. McNair earned the nickname "Air McNair" in High School. Remember that name, Steven McNair, I wrote. Its more affective, more rage, more getting even, whatever that idiosyncratic motive may be.. McNair landed a spot on the schools dance team. / CBS Baltimore. We reminisced, along with two of Steves brothers, Jason and Michael. All rights reserved. For more from the Tennessean archives visittennessean.newspapers.com. I know Jenni, and shes never been stressed out like that before.. Here's a head-to-head analysis ranking the candidates. We talked about the day we were all together in Lorman when Steve announced, with his mothers blessing, that he would bypass the NFL draft and return to play his senior season at Alcorn. Steve McNair, from tiny Alcorn, was one of five finalists for the Heisman. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates the Magnolia States incredibly rich history of producing world-class athletes and teams. Detectives concluded from the crime scene that Kazemi sat beside McNair before ending her life so that she would fall into his lap. Thus, after graduation, he committed to playing ball at Southern Mississippi before transferring to Pearl River Community College. Garrett Suedekum, whohas been best friends with McNair since seventh grade,played on the basketball team with him. That same relative, hernephew, said Kazemi exhibited behavioral issues in her teenage years in Florida. Her blood on McNairs shirt and shorts suggest that she did, although she slipped down his body and ended up on the floor at his feet with the gun under her head. October 20, 2009 / 1:51 PM McNair started formal dance training six months ago. Soon-to-be NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp, another of the finalists, knew it. McNair executes turns and jumpswith precision and power. Theres some indication that she had been doing her own surveillance and figured this out and had found the condoms and those sorts of things sort of locked all this in, in her mind, McCrary said. "They just dont see any other way out, and violence seems the way to just solve everything. Sometime after 1 a.m. Saturday morning, McNair was sitting on the sofa, asleep, when the 20-year-old shot him in the left side of the head with the gun she bought Thursday night, police said. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. She was raised in Iran, but she left at the age of 9 after her mother was killed. Steve McNairs 40th birthday was a gloriously sunny one, the first in days in storm-ravaged south Mississippi. "She, to us, was still a little kid and probably couldn't handle the pressure," said Farzin Abdi, her nephew. Leah Ignagni met McNair in early May and began a dating relationship that would carry on until his death. "Happy birthday, Steve McNair," the mother said just before we walked away. The widow of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair convinced a Nashville judge Friday to put more than $1 million from the athlete's estate into trusts for the couple's two sons. He agreed. 2018 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame | Privacy Policy, About the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Van Chancellor to Speak at the C Spire Gillom and Howell Awards, Angel Baker (Ole Miss) and Tolu Smith (MSU) take home the Gillom and Howell Trophies presented by MBCI and Pearl River Resort. He feels happiness. McNair arranged for her bail. Michael Strahan and Jonathan Ogden are the latest. Ten years ago, former Tennessee Titans quarterback was found dead in his condo alongside his girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi. She was raised by a sister in Florida, but she left there at 16 to move to Nashville with Keith Norfleet. Journalism that makes our home better by celebrating the good, solving the bad, and investigating the ugly. A friend who rented the condo with McNair Wayne Neely had gotten to the condo around 1 p.m. but did not call police. However, other body measurements like vital stats and shoe size . The Murder of Steve McNair:Titans quarterback, Jenni Kazemi found dead in Nashville condo, The Murder of Steve McNair:Titans quarterback, Jenni Kazemi's text messages reveal details of final night, The Murder of Steve McNair:Jenni Kazemi anticipated marriage to Titans quarterback, The Murder of Steve McNair:Steve McNair's best friend disputes allegations McNair accused him of theft, The Murder of Steve McNair:Ex-Metro cop wants Steve McNair case reopened, The Murder of Steve McNair:Grand jury won't reopen McNair case, The Murder of Steve McNair:Jenni Kazemi had known man who sold gun to her. That boy was in a hurry, she said. She wont have any more financial problems. Instead, he called McNair's best friend, Robert Gaddy. Serpas said it's not unusual for people in crisis situations to lose a sense of time, and he may not have realized so much time had passed. Cam Newton takes time to meet with the son of Titans legendary QB Steve McNair.Subscribe to the NFL YouTube channel to see immediate in-game highlights from your favorite teams and players, daily fantasy football updates, all your favorite NFL Network podcasts, and more! They called him Steven back then or Monk. An examination of Kazemis last weeks, days and hours, however, sheds light onhow she made her choice. A number of Hall of Fame worthy stars have retired this offseason, but which ones are worthy of induction in Canton in 2013? They pointed to issues in the relationship and financial pressures that were weighing on Kazemi but could not determine exactly when or why she made the choice to take their lives. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Their romantic relationship ended and they fell out of touch around December 2008, the same month Kazemi met McNair. The team won state championships in the fall, and now theyre headed to nationals. If it dont go away Im goin to the hospital, 10:35 a.m. McNair: OK please let me know. Brett Favre and Ray Lewis and Jay Cutler showed up for the funeral. In typical Steve McNair fashion, the veteran QB pondered retirement all of Wednesday night before walking into the Ravens' complex and making his emotional decision. Editor's note: Sports Illustrated is releasing a podcast examining the death of former Titans quarterback . She told family she was preparing to move in with McNair, but the ad was posted about the same time police believe she was purchasing the gun. I dnt care where, That night at work, Kazemi ended a conversation with her shift manager, saying: "My life is just shitand I should end it.". She collapsed in McNair's lap, as investigators believe she planned, before falling to the floor on top of the pistol. Police said Neely was truthful when he said he didn't realize instantly that McNair and Kazemi were dead. Steve McNair's Son Reflects on Time with Dad, and Titans Skip to main content DRAFT NEWS TEAM SCHEDULE AUDIO VIDEO PHOTOS STADIUM COMMUNITY AUCTIONS NEW STADIUM TICKETS MY TITANS ACCOUNT SHOP WATCH News Home All News Free Agency Draft Pro Bowl Ask Jim/Mailbag Community News Quick Hits Hot Topics Game Recaps 6 Things That Stood Out Game Programs I mean, shes dressed in all this pink, which is very feminine and all of that, and trying to have her body on his: It is as though its a symbolic kind of possession. McNair and another person police have not identified were in the car too. By the time he graduated, some major colleges had offered him a football scholarship. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. And though many questions remain, police and legions of devoted football fans now know without question who killed McNair. This certainly looks like an attempt at posing, McCrary said. She moved to Nashville from the Jacksonville, Florida, area when she was 16 years old witha boyfriend, Keith Norfleet, who was 20 at the time. Kazemi, a young woman who liked to party and dreamed of being famous, also has left a complicated legacy. E:60 sits down with former Tennessee Titans QB Steve McNair's wife and son Tyler, who describe their feelings when they discovered Steve had been killed. He was 6-foot-4, an athlete, the son of the late Titans quarterback Steve McNair, one of the biggest athletes to ever play sports in Nashville. He should have won because he was the best college football player in America that year. But dance, McNair says, tugged at his heart.. Steve McNair was 36 when he was shot to death by his mistress, He was 6-foot-4, an athlete, the son of the late Titans quarterback Steve McNair, one of the biggest athletes to ever play sports in Nashville. Keith Norfleet said in an interview Saturday that he still wanted to be with Kazemi, and thought her relationship with McNair was dangerous territory. I feel like Im proud to make the decision to dance, said McNair, the dance teams first male dancer. "I was trying to tell her over and over, if he's cheating on his wife, you're obviously not the only one," Keith Norfleet said. He texted her Friday night, saying he wanted to take her on a vacation so they could work it out. His teammates have been dancing since age 4. The way the murder-suicide was carried out tells a lot about Kazemis state of mind. Theres the guy who should win it, he said, pointing at McNair. Leah Ignagni, shown here in a Facebook photo obtained by Crimesider, has been named by Nashville police as NFL star Steve McNair's second girlfriend after Sahel Kazemi, who allegedly shot and. Cam Newton takes time to meet with the son of Titans legendary QB Steve McNair.Subscribe to the NFL YouTube channel to see immediate in-game highlights from . She expected Kazemi might have been star struck by McNair. One night, while he wrangled with the tough decision, his father appeared in his dreams. Hes been lying to me the whole time,' Norfleet told police she had told him. We all make mistakes, and a mistake cost Steve his life. Can Darren McFadden be the 2008 version of Adrian Peterson? Now football does a wave it would rather not, waving goodbye to the players who simultaneously grew the game and their legacies. Hell ask him questions like, What do you think I should do? she said. Earlier on July 3, Kazemitexted McNair several times in panic. already received payments of $530,000 each. I'm here if you need me. He wore bandages for weeks. And she did. She still had payments on the Kia but didn't need the car because McNair had helped her buy a Cadillac Escalade, registered in both their names. Trent McNair, former Titans quarterback Steve McNair's son, is a sophomore basketball player at Brentwood Academy. We may never know exactly what drove Miss Kazemi to make that decision on that Saturday morning, then-Police Chief Ronal Serpas said a few days later. Sahel Kazemi ended a life that was coming undone, as she got in trouble with the law, faced mounting bills and saw a new relationship with former Titans quarterback Steve McNair unraveling. I think it seems to be a pretty clear picture of a woman who was pretty stressed.. Steve was married twice. she said. Lucille McNair, his mother, remembers. "We can't put ourselves in the minds of people who do these terrible, irrational acts, but there is evidence she was spinning out of control," Metro police Chief Ronal Serpas said. We talked about how he played through so many injuries. surviving spouse is entitled to at least a third of the estate and There is no record of the couple filing for divorce. Police say she had recently spotted a woman leaving McNair's condo and followed the unidentified woman to her home, but she never confronted her. Loud pop music fills the schools dance studio. He said they'd been talking more in recent weeks and discussed getting back together. The widow of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair convinced a He drove her around and gave her some rudimentary instructions on how to use it. The mission of the Mississipi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum is to preserve, protect and promote Mississippis rich sports heritage for this and future generations. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. the Baltimore Ravens. By 4 a.m., he was at Ignagnis apartment in the Gulch. 'I know the truth about what hes doing. Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn to step down; Gov. Former coach Nevil Barr remembers him showing up for "a pretty good amount" of football games at Oak Grove High just. A Tennessean subscription gets you unlimited access to the best inside information and updates on Nashville's professional sports teams, plus podcasts like Talkin' Titans, newsletters and the ability to tap into sports news from throughout the USA TODAY Network's 109 local sites. MOUNT OLIVE, Miss - (WJTV) Next Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of the death of legendary Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair. the children get the rest. All Rights Reserved. She got it for $100 from a man she tried to sell her Kia to unsuccessfully. It was nearly 11 years ago when former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was found dead next to a young woman in a downtown Nashville condo. January 7, 2011 / 3:51 PM Tyler told me once that his dad talks to him in dreams, his mother, Mechelle, said. He was a starting player for the school's state championship basketball team. 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Just past midnight on July 2, Kazemi was arrested on DUI charges after refusing a breath test when pulled over with McNair and one of his friends in the vehicle. Music city coverage and what it means for Nashvillians (transplants and unicorns alike). Then he made the cuts for state championships. BE blessed, Your email address will not be published. Kazemi was showing signs of falling apart, police learned from her friends and co-workers. I can do the same thing they do but make it look masculine and make it look just as precise as they can, he said. You did a great job with those boys . "What 20-year-old with little life experience wouldn't be captivated by that?" Trenton and Tyler McNair, age 5 and 11 when their father was slain in 2009, stand to inherit millions more once the bulk of the former quarterback's estate is unfrozen. Like the day I first met Steve and his mother. the case is resolved. Steve McNair has two other sons from previous relationships. But dance, McNair says, tugged at his heart. They believe he spent Friday night barhopping before going to his condo, where Kazemi was waiting. They have also received money from the estate. Your email address will not be published. Under Tennessee law, when someone dies without a will, the surviving spouse is entitled to at least a third of the estate and the children get the rest. That friend abandoned the car and asked Kazemi to retake possession. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Tyler told me, I think my dad is OK with my dancing and he would still be proud of me, she said. McNair had none. But he would just come to dance. Steve McNair - Body Measurements. They embraced and kissed, and then Steve went back onto the field and won the game. Ill never forget what Lucille McNair said. McNair's oldest son, Steven L. McNair Jr., is a senior and star wide receiver at Oak Grove High in Hattiesburg, Miss. In May, on her 20th birthday, he co-signed withher on the purchase of a black Cadillac Escalade, although she told friends she wanted to make the payments to maintain her independence. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. A lot of people will make them play basketball or football because theyre athletes. "Nobody's perfect," she said. How would the NFL Draft look if teams made selections based on the world of fantasy football? Gilliam, who first told police he didnt know the woman he sold the gun to, told them in a second interview that he delivered it before she reported for her shift, sometime between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. She gave him five $20 bills. She shot him twice more in the chest, then put the gun close to his right temple for the last shot. so thank god for the time u had with Steve. McNair later bailed Kazemi out of jail. She raised four sons by herself, often working the overnight shift at a factory in nearby Magee. Lee names school-choice expert to post, Sports Illustrated is releasing a podcast, Titans quarterback, Jenni Kazemi found dead in Nashville condo, Titans quarterback, Jenni Kazemi's text messages reveal details of final night, Jenni Kazemi anticipated marriage to Titans quarterback, Steve McNair's best friend disputes allegations McNair accused him of theft, Ex-Metro cop wants Steve McNair case reopened, Jenni Kazemi had known man who sold gun to her, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. It resolves all those issues. I always have thought Steve got his toughness from his mother. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these. The widow, Mechelle McNair, said in court documents that the Kazemi discovered that herfriend had not made payments for the last couple of months, leaving herto catch up while making a monthly payment of about $800 on the Cadillac. "We all make mistakes, and a mistake cost Steve his life." Steve McNair's 40 th birthday was a gloriously sunny one, the first in days in storm-ravaged south Mississippi. We love watching him dance., He added: He does everythingwith precisionand poise and does everythingto the best of his ability.. Kazemi had told friends and relatives that she and McNair were going to be together because he was divorcing his wife. Michael Fabiano gives his take on this "fantasy" scenario. The widow, Mechelle McNair, said in court documents that the trusts were a necessary financial protection for her sons.
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