Sixteen years ago today, an HBCU legend and NFL great was tragically taken away from the sports world.
(Source: HBCU Legends)
Tennessee Titans star quarterback Steve McNair shows off his passing form as he poses for the camera at the team’s facility Aug. 21, 2000. 082100 Steve Mcnair / George Walker IV / The Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC
In this story:
On a day meant to celebrate America’s independence, it took a horrific turn when we learned of the tragic and violent death of Steve McNair on July 4, 2009. His passing was heartbreaking and complicated.
McNair was more than just a great NFL player, his Heisman Trophy-worthy performance at Alcorn State made him a certifiable HBCU legend. Today, his legacy still looms large over both black college football and the National Football League.
“Air McNair” was more than an average quarterback, he was a maestro of the gridiron. The Mount Olive, Mississippi, native was immensely talented and transformative.
From the days of modest living in a tin-roofed house in the Delta to becoming a symbol of resilience, excellence, and hope, Steve McNair was for all generations of black athletes, which made his loss difficult to accept to this day.
At Alcorn State, McNair’s legend and lore were built on his talent and electrifying playmaking ability, bringing thousands of spectators each week to Southwestern Athletic Conference stadiums in the Deep South. Steve McNair was among the unsung heroes of Black college football, setting the new standard for quarterbacks.
He was a bigger and stronger version of Michael Vick, still evermore dangerous both in and out of the pocket.
The Braves’ quarterback amassed over 4,000 passing yards and 119 touchdowns, and finished third in the 1994 Heisman Trophy race—a remarkable feat for a player from a HBCU.
Still, McNair’s senior season remains as one of the most prolific in college football history: 6,281 total yards and 56 touchdowns, earning him the Walter Payton and Eddie Robinson Awards.
The Houston Oilers needed a quarterback to fill the void left by Warren Moon, who departed from the franchise in 1993. In the 1995 NFL Draft, the Oilers selected Steve McNair as the third overall pick, making him the highest-selected black quarterback in NFL history.
He, along with Moon and Doug Williams before him, began to redefine the standards for Black professional quarterbacks.
When the organization became the Tennessee Titans, McNair guided them to a loss that was two yards short of winning Super Bowl XXXIV. He became the first black quarterback to win the NFL MVP award in 2003, which he shared with Peyton Manning.
He’s the greatest Alcorn State athlete ever to wear the purple and gold for the Braves. McNair was tough, as he often played through injuries and still led his team to victories. He earned the respect of his teammates and opponents.
The legacy of Steve McNair reached into the communities of Mississippi, Nashville, and Baltimore. He led a complicated life, as noted from the murder-suicide that took him from his family, friends, and his fans at age 36.
Steve McNair was a trailblazer. Moreover, he was one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to be known as an HBCU Legend — both on and off the gridiron.
