His willingness to play through the bumps and bruises endeared him to teammates, coaches and fans.
McNair's toughness, durability are what stood out
Toughness is defined by the ability to withstand great strain without tearing or breaking, to be strong and resilient, rugged and resolute.
By any definition, the word fit Steve McNair.
We all can use some of McNair’s toughness right now.
The Fourth of July wasn’t worth celebrating after hearing McNair was shot and killed Saturday at a condominium near downtown Nashville. Police haven’t released all the details, other than to say a female victim was found with the former Tennessee Titans quarterback.
We’re in no position to speculate what happened, and we won’t attempt to do so here. Besides, I’m still trying to get over the shock.
McNair is gone, but he left us plenty of memories to cherish. The lasting memory ishow tough he was.
Toughness is a word that gets thrown around too much in sports, but with McNair it was warranted. He was the NFL’s ultimate warrior, one who never backed down from a challenge.
The injuries McNair endured during his 13-year NFL career are well-documented. But his willingness to play through the bumps and bruises endeared him to teammates, coaches and fans, and won the respect of his opponents.
No physical sacrifice was too great, even if it meant putting his body in harms way to win a game. He was never afraid of contact. He welcomed it, looked for it. Maybe that approach proved detrimental to his health sometimes, but he knew no other way to play the game.
McNair’s position might have been quarterback, but his official title was football player.
He came to the NFL from Alcorn State, a tiny black college in Mississippi where he became Air McNair II after following his quarterback brother, Fred, to the school. The major colleges recruited Steve McNair as a defensive back, but he was determined to play quarterback.
At Alcorn State, he put up amazing numbers in a wide-open offense tailored to his skills. It was not uncommon for him to throw for 300 yards and rush for 100 in the same game. He left school as the NCAA’s all-time total offense leader.
His prodigious performances eventually drew national attention. ESPN televised some of Alcorn State’s games. McNair became a Heisman Trophy candidate and Sports Illustrated cover boy.
McNair didn’t win the Heisman (he finished third), which said something about the voters’ dismissive attitude toward his team’s level of competition. Small college quarterbacks rarely get much love from the NFL either, but the Houston Oilers made him the third-overall selection—and the first quarterback chosen—in the 1995 NFL draft.
McNair didn’t become a full-time starter until his third year, but the Oilers/ Titans were rewarded for their patience as he became a three-time Pro Bowler and was named All-Pro and co- NFL MVP with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in 2003.
After the 1999 season, McNair led the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV during a stirring playoff run that began with the “Music City Miracle” win over the Buffalo Bills.
McNair is second only to Hall of Famer Warren Moon in Oilers/Titans history in pass completions, attempts and yards. McNair also is the franchise’s fifth-leading rusher.
But he was about more than numbers. He didn’t have the best arm and wasn’t the swiftest. But he was a winner who led with the force of his will as much as his considerable skill.
Even though McNair’s career ended in Baltimore, he remained a beloved figure in Nashville. He remained a vibrant part of the Nashville community after retiring in 2007. He recently opened a restaurant and actively supported charitable ventures through his foundation.
He was a finalist for the 2005 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award for his charity work, including aiding victims of Hurricane Katrina in the Mississippi Gulf Coast region.
McNair left a legacy that death can’t diminish. Still, he will be missed.
We’ve lost one of sports’ greatest tough guys, a true warrior gone way too soon.
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