The Legacy of Steve McNair: A Glimpse into the Lives of His Children After His Tragic Death!

Steve McNair was a former NFL quarterback who made his mark in the sport for over a decade. Off the field, the proud papa was attached to four children named Tyler, Trent, Steve Jr., and Steven O’Brian. His untimely death in 2009 brought the world full-circle as his children learned to live their lives without their father, each with their own personal struggle and journey. This article will update us on where Steve McNair’s children are now and what they are still doing in regard to their father’s memory.

Steve McNair: Personal Life and Family

The brilliant NFL player Steve McNair attended Alcorn State University, where he met his wife, Mechelle McNair, whom he married in 1997. They are blessed with two children named Tyler and Trent. Additionally, Steve had two sons from previous relationships, Steve Jr. and Steven O’Brian Koran.

Steve McNair’s Football Career and Tragic Sudden Death

McNair’s career was no less than exceptional. He was chosen in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft and was among the leadership that led the Tennessee Titans to the 2000 Super Bowl. He retired after a 13-year career in 2008 but tragically had his life cut short in a murder-suicide on July 4, 2009, at the age of 36. McNair died at the hands of Sahel “Jenni” Kazemi, a woman he was having an affair with, an incident that sent shockwaves into the sports world and left a lasting impact on his family, friends, and fans.

Lives of McNair’s Children: Where Are They Now?

In the years since McNair’s passing, his children took different routes through life, with some following in their father’s footsteps athletically and others into their own rare interests. And all of them have kept their dad’s memory alive one way or another.

Tyler McNair: From Basketball to Dance

Tyler McNair is the oldest of the children from his father Steve McNair’s marriage to Mechelle, and he followed in his father’s footsteps first as an athlete. He had played basketball at Brentwood Academy and was described as one of the team’s best defenders. However, he later fell in love with dancing-a far cry from the athletic career his father had built.

Tyler was into a dilemma to choose either basketball or dance and opted for his favorite dance. Supportive mother made Tyler the first boy dancer in Brentwood Academy’s dance team. Even once, Tyler had shared with his mother a dream that his dad was fine with his decision to dance and made him happy. 

He went on to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a double minor in African American Studies and Fashion. Since then, he has continued his career as a professional choreographer and dancer and even dabbles in modeling. With each new work, Tyler ensures his father is remembered, while forging his path.

Trent McNair: Basketball Rising Star and Future Artist

One of those brothers is Trent McNair, who inherited his father’s athletic genes, playing college basketball at present for Palm Beach Atlantic University. The shooting guard and defender was second on the team in steals and fourth in blocks this season.

Apart from professional basketball, Trent is an emerging musical talent. He composes and shares his music on SoundCloud. His username is Ťmač. His genres of play span from hip-hop to rap and even R&B. It reflects his versatility and innovation. This fact that Trent opted for sport and music reveals his polymorphic talents and interest in working on things apart from the game of basketball.

Tyler’s Thoughts About His Dad’s NFL Career

Although he was only 10 when his father died, Tyler has plenty of great memories of Steve McNair’s time with the Tennessee Titans. During an interview with Titans Online in 2017, Tyler recalled how the stadium his dad played at still holds sentimental value for him. He most recalls memories of being picked up by his father after the games and being taken into the locker room.

Tyler made it a point to say just how different his dad’s career was because of the way McNair let his family into his NFL world. It is this, Tyler says, that has molded him into the loving and sensitive soul he is today. The time together shared between father and son only helped their relationship grow a lot closer, and the memories being churned out are all the more precious.

Steve Jr. and Steven O’Brian: Lives Kept Private Away from the Limelight

Steve McNair’s older sons have mostly kept themselves away from the media a great deal. Steve, Jr., much like his dad, was an outstanding player himself in high school football. He played wide receiver out of Oak Grove High School when his dad died, and his brother Steven O’Brian was 15.

While Steve Jr. and Steven O’Brian have shied away from the limelight, both siblings continue to carry on in their dad’s great work with their private deals. Their absence at the Tennessee Titans’ retirement of their father’s jersey in 2019 was remarkably conspicuous. It was reported that the siblings were not well informed of the event; hence, their absence. Despite this, Steven O’Brian still rendered an emotional message of how he still respected his father from afar for the great athlete and hero that he was.

Dad’s Legacy

Each of Steve McNair’s kids has found his or her own way to honor the memory of a father through their respective athletic endeavors, in the arts, or at least a life well-lived with the values he instilled in each of them. The bond they have with their father’s legacy is strong; to date, they are living life and carrying along the lessons and love he impacted on them. In their achievements and personal journeys, Steve McNair’s children make sure his legacy lives not only on the field but also away from the field.