“He turned and looked at me and winked,” Titans coach Jeff Fisher recalled Thursday night at a memorial service for the slain quarterback. “He grabbed a ball, threw it twice and ran on the field. Four plays later, he throws a touchdown pass to Erron Kinney and we win by three points.”
Fisher said he caught up to McNair walking off the field that day in Pittsburgh and started to talk when the quarterback interrupted and pointed to the sky.
“No more turf toe, no more sacks. No more shoulder problems, and no more interceptions, only touchdown passes. I’m going to miss you No. 9,” Fisher said.
McNair’s wife and family, friends, former teammates and coaches gathered Thursday night along with thousands of fans to remember his accomplishments on and off the field.
Ravens receiver Derrick Mason, who played with McNair in both Tennessee and Baltimore, called the loss heartbreaking before the service. During the service, he called McNair’s wife, Mechelle, a woman who loved the quarterback until his final day.
Fans lined up starting Thursday morning to view McNair’s closed silvery-gray casket at a funeral home and later outside the church. A helicopter provided live TV footage as McNair’s body was moved by hearse, and three of four local TV stations showed the memorial service live.
McNair’s casket was on display at Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he had attended services since moving to Nashville in 1997. It was flanked on both sides by large photos of him.
McNair, who was married, was shot to death at a condo early Saturday by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on herself. Police said her life was spinning out of control. But that wasn’t how those who knew McNair chose to remember him.
Bishop James W. Walker III opened the service by calling McNair one of Nashville’s own. In his eulogy at the end of the more than 90-minute service, he didn’t shy away from how the ex-quarterback died.
The pastor reminded the congregation of how Jesus told those without sin to cast the first stone when people wanted to kill an adultress. He urged those who talk about McNair to drop their stones because everyone makes mistakes. He also spoke to McNair’s wife, who later left walking up the aisle wearing sunglasses.
“You have inspired us all to endure hardship as a good soldier,” Walker said.
The program included a statement from the McNair family.
“Today in our loss, our hurt, and our pain we recognize our gains in you our friends and loved ones. They have all been a source of strength and comfort at this time to our family,” the statement read.
