Steve McNair life, a beacon of NFL success, ended in tragedy in 2009 when he was murdered by his mistress in a shocking murder-suicide.
The former NFL quarterback, celebrated for his MVP season with the Tennessee Titans, had barely settled into retirement when his life was abruptly cut short. McNair was killed by Sahel “Jenni” Kazemi, a 19-year-old waitress he was involved with, in a devastating act of violence.
McNair, married to Mechelle since 1997, began his affair with Kazemi early in 2009. Kazemi, who worked at a popular local restaurant frequented by Titans players, soon found herself deeply entangled with McNair. Their relationship included trips and family introductions, as reported by The Tennessean.
Who was Steve McNair?
Steve McNair’s journey began in Mississippi, where he was raised by a single mother alongside his four brothers. From a young age, he showcased his athletic prowess across various sports, including baseball, basketball, and track, but it was on the football field that he truly shined. After high school, McNair took his talents to Alcorn State University, where he became the standout quarterback for the team.
His impressive college performance led to his selection as the third overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, where he signed a seven-year contract with the Houston Oilers. When the team relocated to Tennessee two years later, they were rebranded as the Titans.
McNair’s NFL career was primarily defined by his time with the Titans, where he made four playoff appearances and played in the 2000 Super Bowl. In 2001, he secured a six-year, $47 million extension with the team. His peak season came in 2003 when he was honored as one of the NFL’s MVPs.
After dealing with injuries and contract disputes, McNair was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, where he played his final two NFL seasons before announcing his retirement in April 2008.
Throughout his life, McNair fathered two sons from previous relationships, Steve LaTreal McNair Jr. and Steven O’Brian McNair. In 1997, he married Mechelle, whom he had met at Alcorn State, and together they had two more children: Trenton Jon McNair and Tyler James McNair.
However, the affair took a dark turn as Kazemi became increasingly distressed. McNair’s promises of divorce were never fulfilled, and Kazemi suspected he was seeing someone else while grappling with her own financial issues.
On July 3, 2009, Kazemi purchased a gun and arranged to meet McNair at his Nashville condo. The next morning, both were found dead, marking a tragic end to a once-promising life.
Was Steve McNair having an affair with Jenni Kazemi?
As McNair approached his retirement from the NFL, he began an affair with Jenni Kazemi, a 19-year-old waitress he had met at a local Dave & Buster’s. Kazemi had immigrated to the U.S. from Iran as a teenager, following the murder of her mother. After moving from Florida to Tennessee with her boyfriend at the age of 16, they parted ways by December 2008. Shortly thereafter, Kazemi crossed paths with McNair.
The two started spending a significant amount of time together, frequently visiting a Nashville condo McNair rented for escapes from his family. Kazemi’s nephew, Farzin Abdi, remembered the couple traveling to various destinations, including Florida, California, Hawaii, and McNair’s farm in Mississippi.
For Kazemi’s 20th birthday in May 2009, McNair helped her buy a black Cadillac Escalade. During her birthday celebrations, her family met McNair over a sushi dinner and enjoyed a lively night out in Nashville’s clubs.
Despite McNair’s marriage, his relationship with Kazemi appeared to deepen. Kazemi’s family was informed that McNair intended to leave his wife and marry her. Her sister, Sepideh Salmani, recounted that McNair had assured Kazemi the divorce was imminent in the weeks before her death. However, Mechelle, McNair’s wife, later disclosed that she had no intention of divorcing her husband and was unaware of the affair with Kazemi.
What happened in the time before Steve McNair was killed?
By July 2009, McNair and Kazemi had been clandestinely involved for about six months. During this period, Kazemi uncovered evidence suggesting McNair was seeing someone else; she discovered used condoms in the bathroom of his condo, according to law enforcement documents obtained by The Tennessean.
Indeed, McNair was also having an affair with Leah Ignagni, whom he had met several months earlier. Ignagni later reported to the police that she had noticed a Cadillac Escalade trailing her on multiple occasions, implying that Kazemi was aware of McNair’s other relationship.
Chris Wall, a member of McNair’s security team, revealed that McNair had grown increasingly frustrated with his relationship with Kazemi. Wall told investigators that Kazemi frequently called McNair at inconvenient times, disrupting his time with his wife and children. Consequently, McNair decided to distance himself and reduce the frequency of their meetings.
On the night of July 1, McNair met Kazemi at a sports bar after Ignagni had informed him she couldn’t see him. McNair and Kazemi were later joined by McNair’s friend, Vent “Casper” Gordon. When they left the bar in Kazemi’s Cadillac Escalade in the early hours of July 2, they were pulled over by the police.
Kazemi was arrested for DUI, while McNair and Gordon were allowed to leave in a cab. Shortly afterward, McNair posted bail for Kazemi, and they reportedly had a heated argument. Following their dispute, McNair visited Ignagni before opening his restaurant the next morning and spent the night at Ignagni’s home.
On July 3, Kazemi engaged in an extensive text conversation with McNair, who was out fishing with his sons. During their exchange, Kazemi voiced her financial worries, mentioning unpaid cell phone and hospital bills, as well as increased rent due to her roommate moving out. She also mentioned the car payments for both the Escalade and her older vehicle.