Former NFL Quarterback McNair Killed

Nashville Police Found McNair, Woman Shot to Death; Circumstances Unclear

(CBS/ AP)  Last updated at 10:18 p.m. EDT

Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, whose most noted drive was the final one of the 2000 Super Bowl, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head Saturday afternoon in a downtown condominium. Police said a woman was also shot dead.

McNair was 36 and played 13 seasons before retiring in April 2008. Police spokesman Don Aaron said officials tentatively identified the woman, but did not release her name. He confirmed she wasn't McNair's wife, Mechelle.

He said authorities were still investigating the shootings and that no suspects were in custody.

"I don't have any answers for you now as to what's happened, who's responsible," Aaron said.

"There are persons who were around the complex today, visitors, who have been taken to headquarters for questioning, just to see what they know, what they may have seen," he said.

Aaron said officers went to the scene after receiving a call about injured persons inside the condo.

"When police officers arrived in response to that call, they found two individuals who had been shot to death inside the residence," he said.

The condominium is one that McNair was known to frequent, but police spokeswoman Kristin Mumford said she didn't know if he was the owner.

About 50 people crowded just beyond police tape outside the complex in the upscale Rutledge Hill neighborhood, some wearing Titans hats. The condominium is located within walking distance of an area filled with restaurants and nightspots, a few blocks from the Cumberland River and within view of the Titans' stadium.

More coverage from CBSSports.com:
Dare McNair too often, you'd lose to an NFL warrior
In McNair they trusted, and QB delivered for Ravens in '06
Tough, sincere McNair was true Titan among NFL players

In June, McNair opened a restaurant near the Tennessee State University campus. It was closed Saturday evening, but had become a small memorial, where flowers, candles and notes had been placed outside the door.

On the restaurant's windows were messages: "We will miss you Steve" and "We love you Steve."

A note attached to a small blue teddy bear read, "We will never forget you, Steve. Once a Titan, always a Titan."

McNair, a four-time Pro Bowler, led the Titans within a yard of forcing overtime in the 2000 Super Bowl, which they lost 23-16 to the St. Louis Rams. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens before retiring in April 2008.

His most noted drive, the last one in that Super Bowl, came when he led the Titans 87 yards in the final minute and 48 seconds, only to come up a yard short of the tying touchdown. Kevin Dyson caught his 9-yard pass, but was tackled at the 1-yard line by the Rams' Mike Jones.

McNair accounted for all of Tennessee's yards in that drive, throwing for 48 yards and rushing for 14. The rest of the yardage came on penalties against the Rams. Before that, he brought the Titans back from a 16-0 deficit to tie the game.

CBSSports.com senior writer Clark Judge said that what he admired about McNair was his leadership, and that clearest when he took the Baltimore Ravens to a franchise-best 13-3 finish in 2006.

"The Ravens traded for McNair because they wanted more than a quarterback who could manage the position; they wanted a quarterback who could win big games," Judge wrote. "McNair could, and he proved it early that year when he rallied the Ravens to a victory over San Diego in a game the Chargers should have won."

"We don't know the details, but it is a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to the families involved," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

"We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair's passing today," Titans owner Bud Adams said in a statement. "He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl."

"If you were going to draw a football player, the physical part, the mental part, everything about being a professional, he is your guy," former Ravens and Titans teammate Samari Rolle said. "I can't even wrap my arms around it. It is a sad, sad day. The world lost a great man today."

McNair became a nationally known college football star playing for Alcorn State, a Division I-AA school in his home state. His performance in the Southwestern Athletic Conference was so dominant, he became a Heisman Trophy contender and national media flocked to the school in Lorman, Miss., to get look at "Air McNair." He still holds the Division I-AA (now known as Football Championship Subdivision) records for career yards passing (14,496) and total offense (16,823).

McNair began his NFL career in 1995 with the Houston Oilers, who eventually became the Titans, and finished with 31,304 yards passing and 174 touchdowns. McNair played with pain for several years, and the injuries ultimately forced him to retire.

"On the field, there isn't player that was as tough as him, especially at the quarterback position," the Ravens' Derrick Mason said. "What I have seen him play through on the field, and what he dealt with during the week to get ready for a game, I have never known a better teammate."

During a five-game stretch at the end of the 2002 season, McNair was so bruised he couldn't practice. But he started all five games and won them, leading the Titans to an 11-5 finish and a berth in the AFC championship game for the second time in four seasons.

McNair played all 16 games in 2006, his first season in Baltimore, and guided the Ravens to a 13-3 record. But he injured his groin during the season opener last season and never regained the form that put him in those Pro Bowls.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of today's tragic news regarding the death of Steve McNair. He was a player who I admired a great deal," said New England Patriots senior football adviser Floyd Reese, who was GM of the Titans when McNair played for them. "He was a tremendous leader and an absolute warrior. He felt like it was his responsibility to lead by working hard every day, no matter what."

Titans coach Jeff Fisher was out of the country, taking part in the first NFL-USO coaches tour to Iraq.

Ozzie Newsome, Ravens executive vice president and general manager, said he immediately thought of McNair's four sons.

"This is so, so sad. We immediately think of his family, his boys. They are all in our thoughts and prayers," he said "What we admired most about Steve when we played against him was his competitive spirit, and we were lucky enough to have that with us for two years. He is one of the best players in the NFL over the last 20 years."

[myloveforjesus]

I THINK BEFORE EVERYONE PASSES JUDGEMENT ON HIM, I THINK THEY NEED TO LOOK AT THERE LIFE! BECAUSE NO ONE HAS NOT SINNED. AND HE DID MAKE A DIFFERENTS! IN ALOT OF PEOPLES LIVES AND DONE ALOT WITH CHILDERN! DID YOU!!!! HE MIGHT OF DONE WRONG,BUT WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE.. PRAY FOR THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS HE LEFT BEHIND. THINK ABOUT THERE FEELING AND THERE LOST!!! I WILL..

[vista8635]

I don?t believe that it was a murder-suicide. They were murdered for one of three reasons:

1. They were killed for ?honor? (thar); the woman?s Middle Eastern family did it. People who come from ?honor? cultures places extreme importance on personal status, and female sexual fidelity. And they accept personal revenge including retaliatory killing if they feel that their family reputation has been ?dishonored?.

2. They were killed by contract. McNair?s wife had them killed for betraying her marriage.

3. They were killed for money. This could be from a variety of suspects.

[bigreddog222]

Nah Davicar5 they keep in the family there.

[DaVicar5]

What's up with the "Memorial" of flowers and teddy bears that now grows outside this guys "love nest" apartment? Does Nashville LOVE adulterers ? ? ?

[dsnj1-2009]

If he was truly married, why would he be renting a condo with another guy?

[dsnj1-2009]

clue #1-don't date 20 yr old waitresses when you're a married football star, clue #2-The NRA is now happy that everyone owns a gun, and USES it

[DaVicar5]

clue #1 = I totally agree with
clue #2 = The NRA wishes she would have used a machete!
clue #3 = McNair's real wife wishes she would have used a machete!

[DaVicar5]

Heck hath no fury, like a woman scorned - Rest in peace, Mister Aldulterer.
If Mister McNair is reconstituted in the next life, perhaps he will have learned his lesson about being faithful to his wife.

[didserve]

what a roll model for our youth!

banging some woman other than his wife...

he could have been a republican!

[whosaid1]

wow, what an "insightful" observation....you are suggesting that adultery is limited to republicans...! Truth means nothing to you......Typical liberal...

[formrusmcsgt]

10 to 1 McNair was dipping his wick with this daffy broad, told her he was no longer going to continue it, and she wasted him and then herself as a result.

[didserve]

spot on !!! good post!

[scabbard2]

A head shot...***...about time somebody, maybe some fan group, owned up...

[darthcheney345]

Oh, right, there's a headline story about this, but

NO HEADLINE STORY ABOUT NORTH KOREAN LAUNCHING SEVEN MISSILES today.

I'm trying to remember - did North Korea EVER launch SEVEN missiles in one day on Bush's watch????

OBAMA IS A FAILURE.

OBAMA IS WORSE THAN BUSH.

OBAMA IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN 100 YEARS.

[didserve]

step back from the koolaid!

[ubrew12]

Hey, if the N Koreans want to celebrate OUR Fourth of July...

(nah: actually, I found the lack of coverage strange too. I don't think it says anything about Obama, it says that N Korea recalls the mid-century anniversary since the war started, and wants everyone to know that just because they are 'passing the baton' to a new leader, no one should get any ideas.)

[heliocracy]

Air McNair is dead already? Gawd life goes by so fast...and I'm getting so old...

[mrmustard1]

Looks like sugah daddy was hangin wit da wrong ******

[45ford]

it's also interesting to note statistics which show female's seldom commit suicide, primarily for what is believed to stem from their vanity.

some reports claim the condo was owned by Kazemi. other reports say it was leased by McNair and longtime McNair friend, Wayne Neeley. Neeley is reported to have been the person who found the crime scene.

it could be that ex-boyfriend Norfleet went to the condo after Kazemi bonded out and caused a confrontation with McNair. given McNair's size, he would have likely posed the biggest threat to Norfleet, so Norfleect could have taken out McNair with multiple shots and shot Kazemi once then abandon the gun at the crime scene in a panic.

[45ford]

from the sounds of what the Tennesseean is reporting, this may not be what it appears on the surface. they are reporting McNair had been dating Sahel Kazemi, 20, who worked at Dave & Busters, which is where McNair met her a few months back. just 2 days ago, Kazemi was arrested for suspected DUI. McNair was in the vehicle with her.

now Keith Norfleet, Kazemi's ex-boyfriend of five months, has come forward to claim that Kazemi called him to the scene of the traffic stop to pick up the vehicle so it wouldn't be impounded. (the vehicle was registered to McNair and Kazemi.) she was arrested for refusing a beath test, and McNair later bonded her out of jail. the irony is, the police report for Kazemi's suspected DUI makes no mention that McNair was in the vehicle. this info didn't surface until Norfleet noted to others that McNair was a party involved in traffic stop. police fessed up about the omission when questioned about it by admitting that McNair was indeed in the vehicle.

it's questionable that the factual omission was an unintentional oversight. perhaps McNair bought off the cops to keep his name out of the report for personal and financial reasons that would impact his marriage and an affair that could have lead to a messy and costly divorce.

Norfleet is also quoted as saying that he was worried about Kazemi dating a married man and he was hopeful that he and Kazemi would get back together. this sounds like it has the potential of being a double homicide at the hands of Norfleet.

[Newster1]

Geez, do we really need 2 PAGES full of football history with this article about a double murder??
None of that is relevant to the case!

[Meg003]

At least he lived life to the fullest, experienced great success, and was not beaten down into the kind of envious, bitter twisted person who could find in a man's death a source of humor. No one really knows what happened or the full circumstances of his life. Maybe he was just staying married for the sake of his four sons. Maybe he loved his wife dearly but was imperfect, as are we all. Maybe he and the woman did not even know each other. Whatever the case, it is a shame that CBS chose to allow comments on this story. This is a heartbreaking tragedy, not a joke.

[michaelwcrosby]

[My response to the ugly comments posted about the tragic death of Quarterback Steve McNair.] What is wrong with all of you who spew out such hateful, opinionated comments, which may or may not be correct, with no regard for the feelings of the innocents such as children or other family members of who just lost their mother, father, brother, etc.? None of you know the circumstances of his marriage, and even if you did, I submit that you have abused your free speech privileges by needlessly making hurtful statements in connection with the untimely taking of the lives of a man and woman. If your comments were made out of frustration and the possible disappointing behavior of a role model, then I apologize for my equally opinionated statements; nevertheless, I implore all of you (myself included) to consider exercising a little restraint when publicly making statements in situations such as these.

[noirviolette]

I agree with you michaelwcrosby and Meg003.People just have no respect for others feelings.This was so very sad to hear no matter what the circumstances are.

[whatithink-2009]

Agree with all of you. People are very evil sometimes. They just don't realize that it is a representation of them, not the person they are slandering.

[WayAround]

Meg003, did you really write "it is a shame that CBS chose to allow comments on this story"?

Do you want to let "the powers that be" decide when we can or cannot have freedom of speech?

[Meg003]

WayAround, did you really imply that your only outlet for free speech is an anonymous CBS forum?

[didserve]

guess he stuck his roll model into something he should not have!

[DoubleHappiness88]

SPORTS BUILD CHARACTER. Turn you kids over to coaches to be turned into characters.

[fixeconomy]

He was shot in his girlfriends condo. He's married! Wonder where his wife was last night?

[nextgenman09]

Who cares? Either way.....

[whatithink-2009]

Can't understand people who click on stories to say, "Who cares?" If you don't care, ignore the story and let the people who do care about the topic alone...unless you think God died and made you the owner of everything.

[nextgenman09]

Who cares what you think?

[MissUT]

No, this was not his girlfriends condo. It was owned by McNair and Neeley. Neeley was the one with the key that found the bodies. The Escalade was titled to Kazemi and McNair, though. The police gave her address as an apartment somewhere else in Nashville. Not sure how long McNair had owned this condo, but it was within walking distance to the Coliseum. That might indicate that he had been in this condo for a while, but that's speculation on my part. Whatever, it's still a tragedy, 2 people are dead, and 2 families are mourning. RIP...