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Nearly 5,000 turned out Saturday to say goodbye to 36-year-old NFL star Steve McNair, who was shot and killed on the Fourth of July by a girlfriend who then turned the gun on herself.

Titans quarterback Vince Young didn’t expect to speak during his mentor’s funeral. He wound up summing up the emotional day with just a few words.

“Steve was like a hero to me, and heroes are not supposed to die,” Young said before stopping to rub his eyes as he talked about the man he knew from football camps as a teenager and called “Pops” — Steve McNair, his predecessor with the Titans.

Fans and old friends filed into the Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi, and McNair’s family rented buses to haul in people from his hometown of Mount Olive. Not far away sat men who competed against McNair or coached him on the field.

The high school football team McNair’s son plays on wore their jerseys in honor of the man they often saw smiling from the sidelines.

“Mississippi has lost a tremendous legend,” said Cardell Jones, McNair’s college coach at Alcorn State.

Police escorted McNair’s wife, Mechelle, and his mother, Lucille, into the stadium beforehand. Near the end, a handful of people surrounded his mother and his sons, waving them with fans and programs and giving hugs.

Brett Favre, who had a home near McNair’s here in Hattiesburg, sat a few rows behind the McNair family but did not speak. Titans coach Jeff Fisher, Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis and Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler attended. Doug Williams, the first black quarterback to win the Super Bowl, also was on hand.

The program included memories from McNair’s mother, his wife and sons, brothers, and nieces and nephews. Photos were also displayed of the quarterback who played 13 NFL seasons with Tennessee and Baltimore before retiring in 2008.

Tags: Funeral, Steve McNair
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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/IcyHot1913/ IcyHot1913

    McNair is like a legend, he will be dearly missed by all fans and including me.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/intllgntblkbeauty/ intllgntblkbeauty

    HE IS NOT A HERO HE IS A CHEATER. he committed adultery and it sadly led to DEATH.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/tru_lee_blessed1/ tru_lee_blessed1

    So the fact that he cheated on his wife supersedes all of his other accomplishments? People were in agony over child molesting MJ, but don’t let a man cheat on his wife oh no the horror. Worry about your own sins.R.I.P. McNair.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/So_Flii_Ricii/ So_Flii_Ricii

    R.I.P Steve McNair who was like an uncle 2 me cuz him n my dad were good friends.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/ikidas/ ikidas

    RIP Steve McNair

    The fact that he cheated DOES NOT negate the inspiration he gave to many youth especially BLACK YOUTH. His accomplishments should not be overshadowed by his lustful act. It is unfortunate but many of the post I have seen here and other articles would lead me to believe that those who do not see his works, yet argue his actions are victims of cheaters themselves who have not allowed themselves to heal. In other words, You are BITTER…Seek help if you can’t see past his actions and stop condemning people for we all slip and fall. Use the intelligence you profess to have as black people to stop being so judgmental. Hero is exactly what the man is. Since when does good not outweigh evil? Oh, when you are black…. Open your minds black people and see the things for what they are. The double standards have got to stop.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/shaiyelle/ shaiyelle

    R.I.P. MCNAIR, U WILL FOR3VA B3 MISS3D. AND YOUR L3GACY LIV3S ON THRU YOUR SONZ!!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/MohTaRoh17/ MohTaRoh17

    What qualifies him as being a hero? Passing a football? I am searching for what he did as an individual that actually inspired anyone to do anything. To those who mention Michael Jackson, he was acquited of child molestation charges. The entire world stopped when he died because of the impact of what he had done worldwide. He was a hero to millions because of his humanitarian deeds. It is unfortunate that Steve McNair paid for a mistake with this life. His family and those who loved him are in my prayers.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/DMY19151/ DMY19151

    FROM WHAT I HEARD AND READ…DUDE WAS A GOOD DUDE….SO R.I.P….BUT Y’ALL MARRIED FOLK NEED TO LEARN FROM THIS….THAT’S THE OTHERSIDE OF THE GAME…WITH THAT JUST A FRIEND S**T….HE WAS F**KING WITH A CRAZY,YOUNG JAWN…..

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/shango24/ shango24

    he died a pathetic loser sellout that he is

    should of got him a sister an afrakan woman

    im so glad he has been killled

    anoother sellout who sends the meassege afrakan males need not associate with there own sistas

    lol hahahahahahah lol lmafo

    coward ass nicca

    im glad ur gone

    now ur son can see what dating outside of ur race will gethca

    coward

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/xtac_kizzez/ xtac_kizzez

    TO SHANGO24 THIS AINT HAD S**T TO DO WITH HIM DATING OUTSIDE HIS RACE, I BLACK WOAMN A MEXIACN WOMAN ASIAN MONG LOAS WHATEVER RACE ALL HAVE CRAZY BYTCHEZ IN THEM, I AM A WHITE/NATIVE AMERICAN WOAMN WHO EXCLUSIVLY DATES BLACK MEN AND AM MARRIED HAPPILY NOW FOR 6 YEARS, HER BEING OF A DIFFERENT ETHNIC BACKGROUND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER KILLING HIM, ITS THE GAMES HE WAS PLAYING BETWEEN HIS WIFE AND HER, BUT NONE THE LESS HE WAS A GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER AND I GUESS SUMMWHAT OF A GOOD MAN AND HE SHOULD BE REMEMBERED FOR IT, STEVE MCNAIR YOU ARE A FOOTBALL HERO AND WERE A GREAT MAN YOU WILL BE MISSED AND ALWAYS REMEMBERED

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/bobbiperk/ bobbiperk

    The only people I truly feel bad for are his children. This is a pitiful legacy to leave behind,. Shot to death while asleep by a 20 year old no brain having, immature w***e who thought her ish was gold. Don’t these tricks know that that gleam goes away as soon as some new tail comes along?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/spring1914/ spring1914

    I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING TO THE PERSON WHO CALLED THE MAN A COWARD, FIRST OF ALL DID YOU KNOW HIM, HAVE YOU EVER TALKED TO HIM, OF COURSE BEING A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL DOES NOT MAKE YOU A BETTER MAN, BUT TO CALL THE MAN A COWARD AND TO SAY YOU ARE GLAD HE IS DEAD, WHAT KIND OF HUMAN BEING ARE YOU, OF COURSE HE MADE A MISTAKE, HE DID WRONG AND HE PAID FOR IT WITH HIS LIFE, BUT TO CALL THE MAN A COWARD, WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO DO THAT, NO MATTER WHAT RACE, COLOR OR CREED SHE WAS, SHE WAS SICK, SOMETHING HAPPENED TO SEND HER OVER THE EDGE AND WE ALL HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IT WAS, BUT TO CALL THE MAN A COWARD, BECAUSE HE DIED LIKE THAT, MAKES NO SENSE TO ME, MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL, NOBODY DESERVES TO DIE, BUT TO CALL THE MAN A COWARD, LET US HOPE THAT WHEN YOUR TIME COMES, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT NOBODY IS PERFECT AND ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE A MAN!!!!!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Whos_GiNa/ Whos_GiNa

    wow…to wish someone killed bc they were cheating is not right! That’s crazy! Even though he was a football god..in the end he was still a man. Nuff said!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/B3AUTIFULL_LADII/ B3AUTIFULL_LADII

    I have no problem with the things Steve has done in his life. . . He was a man even though he died the way he did he was still A Good Man and A Man Worthy of Being Called A Man. . . I do not fault him I fault her because if she was gonna kill herself she should have jus killed herself, yes he made a mistake but who are we to judge when we do things daily when a lot of us are out there doing what he has done but jus havent been caught. . . May Steve McNair rest in peace and May his legacy live on! ! !

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/B3AUTIFULL_LADII/ B3AUTIFULL_LADII

    Okay I just seen the coward post. . . To whom you are you are more of a coward to have said the things that you have about him and to be glad someone had died (that they were killed) you are a true coward. . . Cowards do not spend their time helping others, cowards do not dedicate their summers to working with young children free of charge, and cowards dont down another man for their mistakes and rejoice in their death. . .

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/shango24/ shango24

    he died a pathetic loser sellout that he is

    should of got him a sister an afrakan woman

    im so glad he has been killled

    anoother sellout who sends the meassege afrakan males need not associate with there own sistas

    lol hahahahahahah lol lmafo

    coward ass nicca

    im glad ur gone

    now ur son can see what dating outside of ur race will gethca

    coward

  • http://newsone.com/entertainment/sports-entertainment/last-texts-between-steve-mcnair-and-girlfriend-released/ Last Texts Between Steve McNair And Girlfriend Released | News One

    [...] McNair Remembered As Hero At Funeral [...]

  • http://thebeatofphilly.com/last-texts-between-steve-mcnair-and-girlfriend-released/ Last Texts Between Steve McNair And Girlfriend Released | TheBeatofPhilly – 100.3 The Beat

    [...] McNair Remembered As Hero At Funeral [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/shorday1/ shorday1

    I’M SORRY THAT HE DIED AND HOPE THAT HE CAN REST IN PEACE, BUT LETS NOT FORGET THAT THIS MAN WAS A FATHER, WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG AND I FELL SORRY FOR HIS FAMILY, YES HE CHEATED AND HE WAS WRONG BUT HE DIDN’T HAVE TO DIE FOR IT.

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