Summary
Netflix is releasing new episodes of its sports docuseries,Untold,and one of the most recent isUntold: The Murder of Air McNair,which follows the real-life murder of NFL quarterback Steve McNair.Untoldis asports documentary seriesthat first began in 2021, and is now airing its fourth season. Every installment includes 4-5 episodes, each of which tells a lesser-known story centering on sports. So far,Untoldhas covered athletes or aspiring athletes such as Caitlyn Jenner, Jake Paul,Mardy Fish, and Tim Tebow. Now,Untoldis diving into a much more bloody and nefarious story,
Steve “Air” McNair was a football starwho played in the NFL as a quarterback for 13 seasons, from 1995 to 2008. McNair’s career began with the Houston Oilers, yet he truly rose to fame when he became the first quarterback for the newly founded Tennessee Titans. Notably, McNair was the first African American NFL player to win the AP NFL MVP award. Despite McNair’s career successes, the athlete faced a dark and tragic end in 2009. Just one year after retiring from the NFL, at 36 years old, thetrue crime documentaryreveals how Steve McNair was murdered.
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Steve McNair’s Death Explained
Who Was Sahel “Jenni” Kazemi
On July 02, 2025, Steve McNair went to see Sahel “Jenni” Kazemi at a condo he rented in downtown Nashville. Based on texts between the two, McNair and Kazemi were seemingly having an extramarital affair, as McNair was married to Mechelle McNair at the time. That night, McNair put his children to bed and visited Kazemi, staying the night with her because she felt stressed about paying her phone bill. McNair was sleeping on the couch whenKazemi approached with a gun and shot McNair four times, twice in the body and twice in the head.
Untoldseason 4 will focus on three athletes: Steve McNair, Hope Solo, and Connor Stalions.
For context, McNair first met Kazemi at the beginning of 2009 when she was working at a restaurant in Nashville. Having just broken up with her boyfriend, Kazemi and McNair quickly fell into a romantic relationship. McNair provided Kazemi with fancy vacations and gifts, and also gave her money for her various debts. However,Kazemi was fearful that McNair was having affairs with other women. Notably, two days before McNair’s murder, Kazemi was pulled over for drunk driving with McNair in the passenger seat. McNair bailed Kazemi out of jail, but this could have been Kazemi’s breaking point (viaEsquire.)
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Why Sahel “Jenni” Kazemi Killed Steve McNair
Kazemi’s Crime Explained
The theory is that it’s likely that Sahel “Jenni"Kazemi killed Steve McNair out of desire to have him for herself. Kazemi’s fears that McNair was seeing other women theoretically caused an intense jealousy that led her to take McNair’s life so that other women could not have him. Kazemi’s mental state was also potentially altered by the stress of her financial situation. Though McNair was providing her with money, Kazemi was clearly uncomfortable with her situation and was perhaps driven to extreme measures. Kazemi’s traumatic childhood may have also played a role (viaThe Tennesseean).
This act shows that Kazemi likely had a plan to kill McNair before he arrived at his Nashville condo that night.
McNair’s murder may have been spurred by Kazemi’s desire for him, but her crime was not sudden or spur of the moment.After Kazemi was bailed out of jail for drunk driving, she purchased a gunfrom a convicted murderer. This act shows that Kazemi likely had a plan to kill McNair before he arrived at his Nashville condo that night. In this way, the texts between McNair and Kazemi on the night of July 4th were allegedly Kazemi’s way of luring McNair to see her so that she could take his life.
What Happened To Jenni Kazemi
Steve McNair’s Legacy Explained
Ultimately, Jenni Kazemi also faced a tragic fate after murdering Steve McNair. Right after shooting McNair,Kazemi sat on the couch beside him and took her own life. The crime ended up being not just a murder, but a murder-suicide. McNair and Kazemi were found afterward by McNair’s friends, Wayne Neely and Robert Gaddy. Further investigation into themurder mystery storyrevealed Kazemi’s supposed motives, though no one will ever truly know why Kazemi did what she did. Either way, Kazemi almost certainly cut both her and McNair’s lives short due to money problems, obsessive love, and untreated trauma or mental illness.
Though Steve McNair’s life tragically ended 15 years ago, the football player is still remembered for his contributions to the NFL. He left behind his wife Mechelle, and four children, Stephen LaTreal, Steven O’Brien, Tyler, and Trenton. Now, his story will receive even more deserved spotlight after the release ofUntold: The Murder of Air McNair.
Untold: The Murder of Air McNair
Cast
This documentary explores iconic NFL quarterback Steve McNair and the details surrounding his tragic murder.
