Steve McNair

Stephen LaTreal McNair (February 14, 1973 – July 4, 2009), was an American professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Nicknamed "Air", he spent the majority of his career with the Tennessee Titans franchise. He was the first African American quarterback to win NFL MVP and one of only four to receive the award. McNair played college football for the Alcorn State Braves, winning the Walter Payton Award in 1994. He was selected third overall in the 1995 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers a year before their relocation to Tennessee and became the starter by his third season. In 1999, McNair led the newly rebranded Titans to their first playoff appearance and win since 1993 en route to the franchise's Super Bowl debut in Super Bowl XXXIV. McNair went on to led the Titans to a total of four postseason runs, two division titles, and two AFC Championship Game appearances. He was named MVP in 2003 alongside Peyton Manning after leading the league in passer rating, in addition to receiving three Pro Bowl selections and one second-team All-Pro honor. Following 11 seasons with the Titans franchise, he was a member of the Baltimore Ravens in his last two years, helping the team clinch a division title in 2006. Two years after his retirement, McNair was shot and killed in 2009 by his mistress in a murder–suicide. He was posthumously inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020.