Who killed Steve McNair? The chilling story behind the NFL star quarterback’s 2009 murder

Trigger Warning: This story contains mention of suicide.Steve McNair’s death remains one of the most distressing tragedies in NFL history.On July 4, 2009, the former Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens quarterback was found dead inside a Nashville condo alongside his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sahel “Jenni” Kazemi.What initially appeared to be a mysterious “double shooting” was ultimately ruled a “murder-suicide.” But questions surrounding the case have continued to intrigue true crime audiences.So, who killed Steve McNair?The 36-year-old former NFL quarterback Steve McNair had been shot four times: twice in the chest and twice in the head. His 20-year-old girlfriend Sahel Kazemi was found close to his body with a single gunshot wound to the head.A 9mm semiautomatic pistol was recovered near her body. Investigators found no signs of forced entry or a struggle inside the condo.Ballistics evidence and gunshot-residue findings ultimately supported the conclusion that Kazemi was responsible for McNair’s death before taking her own life.Steve McNair and Sahel Kazemi’s relationship ended in tragedyMcNair and Kazemi reportedly dated for several months before their deaths. The retired NFL quarterback was married and had four children, while Kazemi worked as a waitress. According to investigators, tensions had escalated in the days before the shootings.Police said Kazemi was struggling with financial problems and had become disturbed over the possibility that McNair was involved with another woman [another post-marital affair than the one already with her]. Investigators also said she had sent messages suggesting that her life was falling apart and that she was contemplating suicide.“Baby I might have a break down im so stressed,” text was sent from her to him a day before the murder.“Im gonna have all of u soon,” she texted him 24 hours before she shot and killed him and herself.Authorities believed McNair was asleep on the couch when Kazemi shot him. Police said there was no evidence that he had attempted to defend himself in any way.They reconstructed the scene where Kazemi shot McNair four times before positioning herself near him and firing the fatal shot into her own head. Thereby calling it a murder suicide.Why did people continue to question the chilling double murder case?Despite the official ruling, the investigation did not escape scrutiny and controversy.A three-month CBS News investigation later raised questions about the police theory and Kazemi’s state of mind.Investigators discovered extensive communication between Kazemi and 33-year-old Adrian Gilliam Jr., a convicted felon who spent nine years in prison for second-degree murder and attempted armed robbery, and also the man police said sold Kazemi the gun for $100 in a parking lot shortly before the killings.Phone records showed hundreds of calls and texts between the pair during the weeks before McNair’s death, raising questions about whether their relationship was more complicated than initially reported.CBS also reported details that complicated the suggested motive, including a $2,000 transfer from McNair to Kazemi shortly before the killings [to help her pay her bills]. While these revelations fueled speculation, they did not lead authorities to overturn their conclusion.The official answer for Steve McNair’s passingAfter a months-long investigation, Nashville authorities stood by their original conclusion: Sahel Kazemi killed Steve McNair and then died by suicide. Police said they found no evidence that a third person had entered the condo or participated in the killings.McNair’s death abruptly ended the life of a former NFL quarterback remembered for his toughness, leadership, and impeccable football career. Yet the circumstances surrounding his final hours have ensured that his story remains a daunting chapter in sports and true crime.The official answer to: Who killed Steve McNair? is Sahel Kazemi. But the unanswered questions surrounding the investigation are precisely what have kept the case alive in the public imagination more than a decade later. Even today…Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.