"Air" McNair is Officially Grounded

Today as I was procrastinating (yes I do that) on a paper, I came across the headline that Steve McNair, great NFL quarterback, has called it a career. To me it is a sort of sad day. The reasoning he gave was that his body just wouldn't allow him to play anymore.

He will always be remembered as a tough quarterback. His great years were with the Tennessee Titans (my team of course). I watched him as the team moved to Tennessee from Houston become the starter and develop into a top QB. The Super Bowl season in 1999 was simply a work of art. Though they lost in that game to the Rams, one of the defining plays in his career came in that game. In the last minutes of the game, he rolled out and was trying to buy time for someone to get open. A Rams player tried to sack him, but McNair simply wouldn't go down. He wrestled away from the guy and threw a strike down the field and completed the pass setting up that final play. That play still amazes me.

McNair was a guy who wanted to play in spite of injuries. During his career, he was labeled as a "warrior", as someone who continued to fight regardless of how he felt physically. I always admired him for his toughness and his ability to play and play well. I was sad when he was cut and signed with the Baltimore Ravens (cause people who know me, know I don't like the Ravens at all) but I still rooted for McNair.

In my mind, he is what you would consider a "professional". When it was time to play, he gave you everything he had. Is he perfect? No. He did have his problems off the field but he did own up to them.

His career to me is a testament to perseverance. It reminds me that even when times are hard or I'm hurting so bad, I just have to keep going and press on. As a follower of Jesus, there will be suffering and trials but the goal at the end is so worth it.

We will miss you Steve. You're a Hall of Famer in my book