The inspiring rise and tragic demise of former Tennessee Titans star quarterback Steve “Air” McNair are again within the highlight.
A brand new episode of the Netflix sports activities documentary sequence “Untold” follows McNair’s path from a small faculty to NFL stardom, whereas additionally inspecting questions in regards to the police investigation into McNair’s demise in 2009.
The one-hour episode titled “The Homicide of Air McNair,” which began streaming on Aug. 20, jumps between timelines of his ascendance to a Tremendous Bowl quarterback and the aftermath of his demise.
This is what to know in regards to the star’s life and tragic demise.
Who was Steve McNair?
The Mississippi native rose to nationwide prominence within the early Nineties throughout his soccer profession at Alcorn State, a traditionally black college in his dwelling state.
McNair received the Walter Payton Award as the highest participant in what was then referred to as Division I-AA (now the Soccer Championship Subdivision) throughout his senior season by racking up a mixed 6,281 yards and 56 touchdowns.
He grew to become the uncommon small-school participant to complete within the prime 5 in Heisman Trophy voting for school soccer’s most prestigious award, taking third following his good senior season. No FCS participant has been a Heisman finalist since McNair in 1994.
McNair then achieved one other rarity for a small-school participant by being chosen No. 3 general within the 1995 NFL Draft by what was then the Houston Oilers. (The staff is now the Tennessee Titans.)
A bodily runner with a powerful arm, he was the staff’s star quarterback after they made the transfer from Houston to Nashville and have become the Titans.
Of their first season in Tennessee in 1999, the Titans went undefeated of their new dwelling stadium to achieve the playoffs underneath head coach Jeff Fisher, who’s interviewed in “Untold.”
They beat the Buffalo Payments within the first spherical of the postseason on a wild kickoff return landing within the ultimate seconds that grew to become generally known as the “Music Metropolis Miracle” in NFL lore.
They rode that momentum all the way in which to the Tremendous Bowl, the place they misplaced 23-16 to the St. Louis Rams. McNair hit Kevin Dyson with a move within the ultimate seconds, however Dyson was tackled one yard in need of the objective line with no time left.
McNair led the Titans to 2 extra AFC title video games earlier than ending his profession with two seasons on the Baltimore Ravens in 2006-07. He performed 13 seasons, which included being named the NFL’s co-MVP for the 2003 season and reaching three Professional Bowls. His No. 9 jersey has been retired by the Titans.
How did Steve McNair die?
McNair was discovered lifeless by police on July 4, 2009, at a condominium rented in his identify in Nashville. His physique had 4 bullet wounds and was discovered subsequent to the physique of Sahel “Jenni” Kazemi, 20, who had one bullet wound to the top, police mentioned.
The episode of “Untold” begins with the 911 name to police. McNair’s pal, former Alcorn State teammate and enterprise affiliate Robert Gaddy, made the decision.
The Nashville Police Division dominated after an investigation that it was a murder-suicide. Kazemi shot McNair to demise earlier than capturing herself within the head, police mentioned. A gun was discovered underneath Kazemi and gunpowder residue was discovered on her hand.
What was Steve McNair’s relationship with Sahel Kazemi?
Kazemi was a waitress at an area Dave & Buster’s restaurant in Nashville with whom police mentioned McNair was having an affair.
McNair had been married to his spouse, Mechelle, for 12 years and had three kids on the time of his demise. McNair’s spouse and youngsters usually are not interviewed within the episode.
Excerpts of police interviews with Kazemi’s coworkers, household and mates featured in “Untold” embody them saying that McNair and Kazemi had talked about adopting kids and constructing a life collectively. He was publicly seen along with her and informed her he was going to get divorced, in keeping with their testimony.
Kazemi’s roommate, Emily Andrews, informed NBC Nightly Information anchor Lester Holt in 2009 that she went to golf equipment with Kazemi and McNair and “folks noticed that they had been courting.”
Police additionally launched textual content messages between Kazemi and McNair. In one in every of them, she requested for assist financially. In one other, she wrote she “may need a breakdown” as a result of she was “so burdened.”
Nashville authorities checked McNair’s telephone information and found he was concerned with a number of girls, one in every of whom was interviewed by detectives, in keeping with the documentary. Individuals near Kazemi interviewed by police mentioned she had realized McNair was seeing different girls.
Police concluded Kazemi bought a gun solely hours after getting cited for driving underneath the affect, two days earlier than McNair’s homicide. They mentioned she purchased it off a Tennessee man named Adrian Gilliam, a convicted felon who was on parole after serving time for second diploma homicide and tried theft.
What’s the dispute over the police investigation into McNair’s homicide?
A personal investigator named Vincent Hill, who has written a guide in regards to the investigation, questions its findings in an look on “Untold.”
“I believe as soon as folks begin to see the gaps, the holes and the issues that don’t make sense on this case, anyone with widespread sense goes to say, ‘Wait a minute guys, like, you screwed up,’” Hill says within the episode.
Hill factors out that Gilliam initially informed police he did not know Kazemi’s identify when he offered her the gun, however police later discovered greater than 200 calls and textual content messages between them within the three weeks earlier than McNair’s homicide.
He additionally claims Gilliam lied about his whereabouts on the time of the capturing and that he was the final one in touch with Kazemi on the day she and McNair died.
Hill then alleges it could have had one thing to do with Gaddy. Nashville detective Charles Robinson says within the episode that Gaddy had a falling out with McNair over $13,000.
Gaddy vehemently denies Hill’s assertion within the documentary.
“You suppose I am concerned with my greatest pal’s homicide over 13 freakin’ thousand {dollars}?” he mentioned. “I’ve needed to hear ridicule and conspiracy theories, however deep down I am feeling this weight that provided that I had not had an argument (with McNair), I’d’ve been there for him.”
Robinson additionally refutes Hill’s claims.
“Ask him for his resume,” he says about Hill. “Ask him, what number of murders did you’re employed on the police division? Zero.”
“What Vincent Hill did and is doing is completely disgusting,” Gaddy mentioned.
McNair’s former head coach, Jeff Fisher, additionally weighs in on the allegations.
“I might make a case that issues do not add up,” Fisher says. “I do not wish to speculate. Simply let it go.”