All-Time Titans QBs Ranked: McNair #1, Blanda #2

Steve McNair

#9 · Tennessee Titans
Retired 13 Years In The NFL
🏆 NFL Most Valuable Player (2003)
Steve's
HAIR
42.2
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Steve McNair or the Titans?

Steve McNair Legacy

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Steve McNair was a quarterback who refused to break, even when the game tried its hardest. The third overall pick in 1995 from tiny Alcorn State, he became the first African American to win NFL MVP, but that achievement barely scratches the surface of who he was. McNair's genius lay in his dual-threat chaos—he'd beat you with his arm, his legs, and his sheer refusal to accept defeat. That Super Bowl XXXIV drive against the Rams, trailing 16-0, trailing late—that was McNair in a nutshell: impossible situations were just invitations. Four Pro Bowls, a co-MVP with Peyton Manning in 2003, and a legacy built on toughness that transcended statistics. He left us too soon, but his fingerprints remain all over Tennessee football.
Steve McNair passed away on July 4, 2009 at the age of 36.

Steve McNair Rating Breakdown

Season
Good
Fantasy
Good
Playoffs
Good
Overall
Slaps
11 years with the Titans

Steve McNair Career Stats via Wikipedia

31,304 Pass Yards
38 Touchdowns
119 INTs
60.1% Comp %
42.2 HAIR

Steve McNair Career Timeline

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2007 1

Retirement from NFL

McNair announced his retirement after two seasons with the Ravens, having amassed 31,304 passing yards, 116 TDs, and 3,590 rushing yards over 13 NFL seasons.

2006 3

Ravens Playoff Berth

In his Ravens debut season, McNair helped lead the team to the playoffs before a first-round loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Signed with Ravens

McNair signed a five-year, $30 million contract with the Ravens, reuniting with former Titans coach Brian Billick.

Traded to Baltimore Ravens

McNair was traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Baltimore Ravens for a fourth-round pick after 11 seasons with the Titans.

2003 1

Third Pro Bowl Selection

McNair made his third Pro Bowl appearance, capping a decade of excellence with the Titans.

2002 2

AFC Championship Appearance

McNair guided the Titans to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost to the Oakland Raiders.

Second Pro Bowl and All-Pro Honors

McNair was selected to his second Pro Bowl and earned First-Team All-Pro recognition for his performance.

2000 1

First Pro Bowl Selection

McNair earned his first of three Pro Bowl nods following a standout season with the Titans.

1999 2

Super Bowl XXXIV Appearance

McNair led the Titans to their first Super Bowl, falling short 23-16 to the St. Louis Rams; he threw for 214 yards and rushed for 64 yards.

Titans Team Rebrand

The Houston Oilers relocated to Tennessee and rebranded as the Tennessee Titans, with McNair as their starting quarterback.

1997 1

Named NFL Co-MVP

McNair shared the NFL MVP award with Peyton Manning after leading the Titans to a strong season with his dual-threat play.

1995 1

Drafted by Houston Oilers

Steve McNair was the third overall pick in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers.

13 years in the NFL

Frequently Asked Questions About Steve McNair

How does Cam Ward compare to Steve McNair?

Steve McNair's a grizzled Titan legend with 31,304 passing yards, 38 TDs, and that gut-check Super Bowl run, while Cam Ward's the fresh-faced starter still stacking snaps and chasing relevance—McNair's legacy is etched in stone, Ward's more like a promising doodle on a napkin. One carried Eddie George to glory; the other's got the keys now, but good luck topping Air McNair's dual-threat wizardry.

Is Steve McNair in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nope, Steve McNair's not in Canton, and it's one of those head-scratchers that keeps Titans fans up at night. Three Pro Bowls, franchise passing king, co-MVP in '03, and that epic Super Bowl XXXIV music city miracle—yet the Hall snubbed him. Guy was tougher than a $2 steak, but voters love flashier stats over those bruising wins.

How would Steve McNair perform in today's NFL?

McNair would feast in today's pass-happy NFL, where rules baby the QB and pockets stay clean longer. His cannon arm lit up for 3,350 yards and 21 TDs in '01, plus he ran like a caffeinated gazelle—think Lamar Jackson with more grit. Modern defenses couldn't touch that mobility without flags flying everywhere.

How does Steve McNair compare to Jake Locker?

McNair lapped Jake Locker like a greyhound at the track—42.22 rating to Locker's dismal 16.43, both Titans franchise QBs but one a battler who dragged the Oilers to Nashville glory, the other a flameout who fizzled after 23 starts. McNair's the real deal, Locker's the "what if" that mercifully ended early.