Steve McNair would have been 47 years old today

Former NFL player Steve McNair would have been 47 years old today, and he remains a legend in football in Mississippi and around the world.

McNair was born and raised in Mount Olive, Miss., where he lettered in football, basketball and track. In addition to leading his team to a championship game in his junior year, McNair turned down offers to play at big schools such as the University of Florida. He eventually agreed to play at Alcorn State University where he broke records.

By 1994 in his senior season at ASU, McNair had a season high of 5,377 passing yards and 904 rushing yards. He also threw for 56 touchdowns.

The Houston Oilers drafted McNair as the third pick of the 1995 NFL draft. The Oilers changed their name to the Tennessee Titans in 1999, and that’s where McNair played most of his NFL career.

In 2000, McNair led the Titans to a 13-3 season and an appearance in the Super Bowl where they lost in the final seconds to the St. Louis Rams 23-16.

McNair was playing for the Baltimore Ravens in 2006 when he led them to a 13-3 season playing with notable players such as Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. In 2008 McNair announced his retirement from the NFL.

Just a little over a year later, McNair was killed in a murder-suicide by Sahel “Jenni” Kazemi, his mistress, on July 4, 2009.

McNair was 36 years old at the time of his death.