Not-so-fond Memories of Steve McNair

To My Disliking, Ex-NFL Quarterback Helped Redefine Position

I was probably the happiest football fan in the country when the NFL reconfigured the divisions prior to the kickoff of the 2003 season.

As a devoted fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, I was personally relieved the Steelers no longer had to face the rifle arm and nimble feet of Steve McNair and the Tennessee Titans twice a year during the regular season. The NFL finally made geographical sense of every division in both conferences in the league and as a result the Titans moved from the Steelers' prior division (the AFC Central) to the AFC South.

Though he actually posted an 11-5 career record and a .688 winning percentage against them, it truthfully seemed Steve "Air McNair" always beat the Steelers and in fact had his best performances of his life to my chagrin. I vividly recall hoping the Steelers' offense could maintain possession of the football as long as possible when they faced the Titans during the late 1990s and early 2000s. My hopeful wish was never granted of course, and time after time I watched in disbelief as McNair strategically engineered the Titans down the field for the decisive score.

Steve McNair was simply a nightmare to the Steelers' aggressive-style defensive as well as other teams throughout the NFL during the bulk of his 13 seasons in the league. It was his size and arm strength. It was his mobility and football smarts. It was his toughness and sports competiveness. And over the years, he gradually helped redefine the quarterback position.

If defenders got their hands on McNair, he would drag them or shove them off. If defenders settled back in zone coverage, he would run wild or locate the open receiver. If the Titans were losing and the game looked bleak, McNair would work his magic on the ground and/or through the air and miraculously move his squad down the field.