Steve McNair

51-Year-Old QuarterbackQB
 Free Agent  
2023 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Steve McNair in 2023. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Retired from football in April of 2008.
QBFree Agent
July 8, 2009
Nashville police have determined that McNair was murdered last Saturday by his girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, who then used the same weapon to kill herself, the New York Times reports.
ANALYSIS
This finding sheds some light on the tragic ending of McNair's life at age 36. He will be remembered by the NFL community for his on-field leadership and willingness to play though pain throughout a distinguished 12-year career that saw him throw 174 touchdown passes.
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
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2023 Steve McNair Split Stats
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
To put it simply, he’s lost his fastball. McNair was once the best intermediate thrower in the game. Now, he’s one of the worst, with a QB rating of 59 on 11-to-20 yard throws. And if you think that’s just stats, take a look at the tape of the playoff disaster against the Colts and confirm this with your eyes. The Ravens want to run the ball more than last year after acquiring Willis McGahee. So, discount their favorable run/pass splits of 2006. Of course, McNair is an injury risk, too. And there’s no point in insuring yourself with Kyle Boller despite Boller’s good stats last year (8.8 YPA and 104 QB rating). That sample size was very small (55 attempts), and the Ravens were desperately trying to trade up to grab Brady Quinn before settling for Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith in the fifth round.
McNair’s only 33, but he limps around now like he’s in the old-age home and spends most Sunday mornings clutching his heart and leaving owners breathless as to whether he’ll be deactivated yet again. Even with McNair in the fold, the Ravens should not be expected to open up the offense, despite the chance that their conservatism says more about Kyle Boller than head coach Brian Billick. We’re not sure how much McNair has left. On the plus side, he’s accurate enough with 15.1 percent bad throws. He’s struggling more on 11-to-20 yard throws, which had been his bread and butter (last year, he had a 79 QB rating on 88 attempts). His scrambling days are almost over, as he accounts for only about 10 yards a game now and gets only the usual allotment of QB rushing TDs, but he's a less-risky option that some of the other QB's who will be available later in drafts.
After a 2003 campaign when he shared MVP honors with Peyton Manning and led the NFL with 8.0 yards per passing attempt, McNair’s body finally broke down last season, allowing him to play just eight sub-par games in which he threw more interceptions than touchdowns for the first time, and also averaged the lowest per-pass output of his career at a meager 6.2 yards. As a result, there was talk of his retirement, but after undergoing surgery to graft a piece of his hip to fill a small hole in his sternum last December, McNair has vowed to return in 2005. When McNair comes back, he’s going to find himself without his favorite target, Derrick Mason, but developing star Drew Bennett and physical phenom Tyrone Calico should be around to catch his passes, and tight end Ben Troupe could take a step up in his second season. In addition, the Titans defense (30th in points allowed) has been decimated by salary-cap problems the last two seasons, so expect Tennessee to have to throw the ball a lot. Once one of the best running quarterbacks in the game, McNair doesn’t take off nearly as often as he used to, but he’s still dangerous around the goal line. Expect at least two or three rushing touchdowns from a healthy McNair if he plays 16 games. Of course, that’s a big ‘if,’ but McNair should at least be 100 percent heading into training camp. Bennett, who spent time with McNair on the field this spring, was impressed by the velocity and accuracy of his passes, and all reports concerning the sternum and his overall physical shape are positive. As such, McNair is an intriguing middle-to-late round upside play.
McNair would be a slam-dunk fantasy stud if coach Jeff Fisher would just let go of his smash-mouth ways and let McNair take over games and pile up the points (in reality and fantasy). There's a greater chance of that happening this year as the cap-strapped Titans have taken another step back defensively. Even with the loss of Justin McCareins, the Titans are loaded at wide receiver. Tyrone Calico has Terrell Owens-type upside, but his complete development is likely more than a season away. Still, he'll be a dangerous downfield weapon as a third receiver. The diminutive but darting Derrick Mason and tall, sure-handed Drew Bennett complement each other perfectly. McNair's efficiency in getting the ball into the hands of these weapons is best evidenced by his sparkling, NFL-leading 8.0 yards per attempt in ‘03. Also impressive last year was his 90 QB rating on throws that travel over 11 yards, including an impressive plus-85 on throws over 20 and 40 yards. McNair's repeatedly proven to be able to produce despite being far less than 100 percent physically. Imagine if he could stay healthy for a whole season? Sooner or later, that's going to happen. When it does, look out.
McNair's a top-10 fantasy quarterback these days for two reasons – he's matured as a downfield passer in recent years (43 touchdown passes in 2001-02), and he's still one of the more reliable running quarterbacks around. If you throw out the 2000 season, McNair has 28 rushing touchdowns over five seasons, and he's essentially a lock to run for 400 to 500 yards every year.
More Fantasy News
QBFree Agent
July 5, 2009
McNair was found shot to death Saturday in his downtown condominium, the Associated Press reports. McNair was found dead on a sofa in the living room with multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head.
ANALYSIS
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Steve McNair: Ready to Call it a Career
QBFree Agent
April 17, 2008
McNair announced his retirement from football Thursday, the Baltimore Sun reports.
ANALYSIS
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QBBaltimore Ravens
Shoulder
April 7, 2008
McNair (shoulder) has been lifting regularly and throwing to teammates during Baltimore's offseason program, the Baltimore Sun reports.
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Steve McNair: Progressing Well
QBBaltimore Ravens
Shoulder
February 5, 2008
McNair has been rehabbing his left (non-throwing) shoulder two-to-three days a week at the Ravens' team headquarters and is reportedly progressing well, the Baltimore Sun reports.
ANALYSIS
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QBBaltimore Ravens
Shoulder
January 5, 2008
McNair (torn rotator cuff) finished the 2007 season with 1113 yards passing with two touchdowns and four interceptions in six games.
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