When you think about the history of the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans the first quarterback, and maybe even player no matter the position, you think about is probably Warren Moon. The other signal caller you’d say is the late great Steve McNair. A man who stabilized their quarterback position for 11 years.
Why Quarterback Steve McNair Should Be a Hall of Famer
This July 4th will mark 14 years since Steve McNair’s tragic death and despite his career accolades, he has not once sniffed the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He retired 16 years ago. McNair, born in Mount Olive, Mississippi, made a name for himself at Alcorn State after declining to go to the University of Florida and Florida State. Reason being was they wanted him to play running back and defense, not quarterback. It’s a good thing he didn’t go to those schools because Steve McNair would carve out a heck of a career as a signal caller.
The Birth of Air McNair and a Trip to the Super Bowl
His senior year in 1994 was memorable. Throwing for 5,377 and 47 touchdowns. While rushing for 904 yards and 9 touchdowns. That season would help Alcorn State to an 8-3 record and a playoff berth. He won the Walter Payton award as the top player in Division 1-AA and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Next stop for Steve McNair: The NFL.
In the 1995 draft, McNair was selected by the Oilers with the third overall pick. McNair became the highest drafted African American quarterback in NFL history at the time.
Back then NFL teams were more cautious with rookie quarterbacks and had them sit for a couple of years. McNair was the backup to veteran Chris Chandler for 1995 and 1996. The Oilers would go 11-14 with Chandler, while McNair only started 6 games going 4-2. 1997 was a fresh start for the organization. The Oilers moved to Tennessee (eventually becoming the Titans in 1999) and handed the keys to their prized first round pick quarterback.
The Steve McNair Era in Tennessee Begins
1997 and 1998 saw McNair show his talent with one of his highlights being a 71-yard touchdown run in a 31-22 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That time Steve McNair went 71 yards to seal the win. (Nov. 8, 1998) pic.twitter.com/ivDK1MBalS
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) September 6, 2022
1999 would be a special year for the Titans and McNair. While he would miss five games due to an inflamed disk that required surgery, he returned to guide the Titans to seven wins in their last nine games and a 13-3 record. Good for a Wild-Card spot. McNair’s first postseason would jump him to legendary status as he won three playoff games and clinched the Titans first AFC Championship by defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars. McNair rushed for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns and threw for another touchdown in the Titans 33-14 win. His most memorable performance would come in a losing effort in Super Bowl XXXIV against the St. Louis Rams. Throwing for 214 yards and having an incredible scramble play evading multiple tacklers and completing a pass to wide receiver Kevin Dyson. It’s a play we’re still talking about two decades later.
Becoming the Best Quarterback in the League
Steve McNair and his case for Canton would grow from there in Tennessee. Unfortunately, he’d never get back to another Super Bowl thanks to old rival Ray Lewis and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, the Oakland Raiders led by 2002 MVP quarterback Rich Gannon in the AFC Championship game, and the dynasty known as the New England Patriots. That didn’t stop McNair from winning an MVP award.
In 2003, McNair would once again put the Titans on his back with 24 touchdown passes, 3,215 passing yards, and a passer rating of 100.4. The Titans would go 12-4 and win a playoff game over their old rivals the Ravens on the road. McNair would win co-MVP with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. From 1999-2003, McNair won 54 games including the postseason, made a Super Bowl, won an MVP and made two Pro Bowls. Two more Pro Bowl appearance would come in 2005 in Tennessee and 2006 as a member of the Ravens. He even became the youngest quarterback in league history to pass for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards.
The highs for McNair were amazing, but the injuries and the toll taken on his body would catch up to him.
Departure From Tennessee and the Case for Steve McNair in Canton
At the end of the 2005 season, McNair had missed 10 games over the last two seasons and the Titans would eventually trade McNair to the Ravens. He would help Baltimore win 13 games in 2006 to make the playoffs and even beat the Titans during a Week 10 matchup. McNair would eventually retire after the 2007 season due to injuries. He finished his career with 31,304 passing yards, throwing for 174 touchdowns while recording 3,590 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground.
With his accomplishments and helping change a position to where it is today, you would think McNair would garner more attention for Canton. Unfortunately, he hasn’t. As a matter of fact, he’s been unable to make it to the semifinals of the Hall of Fame ballot. For a player who has the 8th most rushing yards for a quarterback, 4th among rushing touchdowns for a quarterback, is 51st in passing yards all-time, has more touchdown passes than Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, plus leading the league in passer rating in 2003, it’s hard to believe he has never come close to a bust in Canton.
He is a member of the Titans/Oilers Ring of Honor, and his jersey number is retired in Tennessee. However, he certainly does deserve consideration for the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Main Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
