The University of Florida and other high-profile Division I programs coveted Steve McNair as a Running Back, but he wanted to play Quarterback, and he chose to play at Alcorn State in the SWAC.  McNair’s belief in his ability as a pivot was correct, as he dominated the conference and was so good that he was a Heisman Finalist and won the Walter Payton Award as the top Division I-AA player in 1994.  The Houston Oilers took him third overall in the draft, and they had no plans to use him as a Running Back.

McNair was a backup in his first two years and took over in 1997, the franchise's first in Tennessee.  When the team was renamed the Titans in 1999, McNair led the team to the Super Bowl, a narrow loss as the St. Louis Rams stopped the Titan's last drive at the one-yard line.   Nevertheless, McNair was considered a top Quarterback, and in 2003, he won the MVP and was the youngest player at the time to throw for 20,000 Yards.

A three-time Pro Bowler, McNair took the Titans to four playoffs. Still, issues with his contract and actions by the Tennessee (they would not let him rehab his injury during the offseason at team facilities fearing that an injury in the building would activate another year) led to his release.  Injuries would, however, take him out of football two years later.  McNair died tragically in 2009 at age 36, when he was shot and killed by a woman who was alleged to be his mistress.

In 2019, the Titans retired McNair’s number, 11 years after the organization inducted him into their RIng of Honor.