NFL Quarterback Steve McNair: What legacy will he leave?

What a sad couple of weeks it has been since x-Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was tragically murdered. The investigation into the events of McNair’s last night has been accompanied by the gradual coming to light of his character and life. Steve was widely known not only as being a talented and successful NFL quarterback, but also as being a family man, a man who had made an impact on his community, and a Christian man of character. But, as the days went by after his murder, another picture of Steve began to emerge, and many have written about his life. Steve had a secret life, a dark side.

In 2003, McNair was arrested for a DUI and carrying a concealed weapon in California. McNair’s high priced lawyers helped him to get the charges dropped. He was traded to the Baltimore Ravens in 2005. But, then in 2007 McNair was again arrested on a DUI along with his brother-in-law, this time in Tennessee. But, his lawyers again got his charges dropped. In April of 2008, McNair retired from football after 13 seasons.

But, since his death reports began to emerge that for years McNair was also often seen partying late at night around town, and there are reports that he had had a long term affair with the young woman, one of his employees, who murdered him. It was also recently released that Steve’s blood alcohol limit was twice the legal limit for drunkenness, and the investigation has determined that Steve was murdered in his sleep with a couple of gun shots to his chest and a couple to his head.

Someone once said that some people’s legacy in life is merely to serve as a warning to others, and now it appears that McNair shall be one of them. McNair’s exploits and decisions on the field will for a long time (and perhaps forever) seem meaningless and trivial compared to his exploits and decisions off of it. The children and wife he left behind will now spend the rest of their lives trying somehow to forgive him for the shame and pain he brought them. If McNair’s life shall serve as a warning to us, then we would do well to consider the lessons we should learn.

NFL football coach Tony Dungy has a blog, and in a published thread he summarized rather well what we should be thinking about concerning Steve McNair’s life and legacy:

“For Lauren and me, though, Steve McNair’s death has been troubling. While we didn’t know him well, we did get a chance to spend a week with him and his family at the 2004 Pro Bowl, and the Colts competed against his Tennessee Titans for years in the AFC South Division. From all appearances, it seemed like a beautiful family who had everything going for it and a dad who was an icon in Tennessee.

What went wrong? Right now we can only guess, but perhaps time will answer
some of the questions. There is going to be a tendency to say, “We should remember the good things Steve did and not focus on the negative.” And we should remember all the great things he did on the field for the Titans and in the Nashville community. We also shouldn’t focus on the information that has come out in the last few days in a purely judgmental way. But I think it would be a mistake to just ignore the more disturbing parts of the McNair story.

I think the best thing we could do is try to learn from it. In my mind, the lesson
is that no matter how successful we are, no matter how many good things we do in life, we are all susceptible to temptation and bad choices. And one bad choice can ruin your life; just as it appears to have happened to Steve McNair, it can happen to me.

As a Christian, I believe in the bible, and it talks a lot about temptations and also about the consequences of sin and bad choices. Christians aren’t immune from those temptations or consequences. It appears that Steve McNair made a bad decision as a married man, just as Governor Sanford of South Carolina did, going down a disastrous path with another woman. Those relationships could have started out very innocently, and maybe even with good intentions in mind. However, at some point, both men had to make decisions on the direction those relationships would take, and both men apparently made the wrong choice. Unfortunately, those decisions will have terrible consequences for them and their families.

We have to keep in mind the impact our decisions can have, not only on ourselves, but on our loved ones as well. And it’s not just in the area of extra-marital affairs, but in all areas of integrity–in our personal and our business affairs as well. We have to constantly be on guard and pray about all of our decisions. We can’t fool ourselves into thinking that bad decisions won’t have bad consequences.”

Michael Hyatt, CEO for Thomas Nelson Incorporated, wrote in his blog these five lessons that we ought to learn from Steve McNair’s life:

• We never make decisions in a vacuum. Everything matters. Our words and actions will echo into eternity.
• One moment of indiscretion will be remembered forever. It can wipe away a lifetime of good deeds, all of which will be forgotten.
• We are all vulnerable to lapses in judgment. If we think we are not, we are setting ourselves up for failure.
• We need to build a support system of family and friends who will care enough to challenge us when we veer off course.
• We need to live our lives on-purpose. In my experience, the best way to do this is to create a life plan and review it frequently. If you don’t have a road map, you could end up anywhere.

All of the revelations that have come out about McNair recently have painted the portrait of a man who on the outside appeared to be one thing, yet inwardly was very different, a man who had for a long time been greatly conflicted. I’m sure his wife today could write a book about the hypocrisy of a man who appeared to be one thing yet was another, a man who wanted to be known as a Christian yet was haunted by demons. His life at one point surely became one misstep that led to another that led to another, until one day he paid the piper. Whether or not he was truly a “born again” Christian, I will not speculate. But, I do know that he was a man who was ruled by his passions, rather than being in control of them. Most likely he was a man who truly desired to be a good person and live that life that God had planned for him. But, temptations were strong for one of his fame, and rather than resist the Devil and desist from sin, he chose to have one foot in God’s kingdom and one foot walking in the ways of this sinful world. But, one cannot continue that game forever without paying a price.

This all reminds me of when the children of Israel were ready to cross over the Jordon river and take possession of the land of Canaan. They had been wandering around in the wilderness, a place that symbolizes the believer in this world in his struggles and failings to serve the Lord, and the trials that that brings. When they got ready to go, the tribes of Reuben and Gad asked permission to stay on the wilderness side of the Jordon because they thought the land over there was ideal pasture for their flocks. But, this wasn’t the land God had prepared for them and called them to. These tribes were finally given permission to stay on that side if they came over and helped the other tribes, their brothers, to capture the promised land, fighting alongside of them. Possessing the land of Canaan symbolizes walking in victory in Christ and claiming all of the promises of God. These tribes agreed to go help their brothers fight and thus were allowed to stay, but the Lord warned them beforehand that if they did not follow through with their commitment to conquer that land and follow the Lord’s commandments, “Be sure and know for your sins will find you out.” Let me tell you my friend, this principle pertains to you. If you try to live with one foot in God’s kingdom and the other walking in the ways of this sinful world that is in rebellion against God, your sins too will find you out. One day there will be a huge price to pay in the consequences of your decisions. Is that what you would like for your life’s legacy?

Steve McNair's life would be a double tragedy if there is someone out there who reads this article who has been living like McNair, living a secret life of sin, and when they read this they don't realize that through Christ there is hope for them. If you realize that I am speaking to you in this, also recognize that a life transformation is available if you will by faith repent (turn away from) your sin and yield your life completely into Jesus' control as your Lord and Savior. If you will humbly accept the forgiveness His life was given on the cross to obtain, then this is the first step to getting victory. This forgiveness is promised you in 1 John 1:9-2:2: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." Next, you need to seek out a pastor of a credible Christian church, or a Christian friend, and let them know that you also need their help to conquer this sin in your life. Then, listen and take heed to their counsel... There are many examples of men and women who made big mistakes and fell deep into sin, who have gone on and later become great examples as Christians. Just look at the lives of Chuck Colson or preacher Jim Bakker, for instance.

My heart aches and grieves for the victims of this tragedy. May Jesus Christ grant His peace to the McNair family in their grieving process, as well as the family of the young woman herself who allegedly pulled the trigger that fateful night.