Steve McNair, pictured with head coach Jeff Fisher, teammate Jarrett Payton, and his wife, Mechelle.

NASHVILLE, TN, Nov. 21, 2005 – The Tennessee Titans announced today that quarterback Steve McNair has been named the 2005 Titans Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner.  McNair is now a finalist for the league-wide 2005 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. 

In 1999, the NFL renamed the award after the late Walter Payton as a tribute to his greatness, both on and off the field.  McNair was selected by a majority vote from his teammates, Titans staff, members of the news media and local non-profit & community executives for his dedicated community service.

“My community work is not about the awards, but I am very grateful for this,” said McNair.  “I’m about helping families and through the work of my foundation I have the ability to influence a lot of young kids and adults.  I want to help people that haven’t had the fair opportunity to be successful in life and then give them a chance of hope.”

Making today’s announcement even more meaningful was the fact that Walter Payton’s son Jarrett, currently a running back for the Titans, presented McNair the award named for his father.

“My mom (Connie Payton) told me presenting this award would make for a very special day,” Jarrett said.  “It’s always special when someone can win an award like this.  The meaning of the award is not only about being a football player but a person that’s a ‘real man’ who does great things off the field as well.  It’s very exciting to have one of the guys on my team that’s so worthy of this award.”

McNair was equally excited to receive the award from Payton and spoke of the importance of setting the example for his younger teammates like Jarrett of getting involved in the community.

“As young guys come along, they don’t often realize how important it is to not only be successful on the football field but off the field as well,” McNair said.  “I hope my work off the field will lead the younger guys towards doing things in the future like I’m doing now.  The young guys have to realize how important it is to get out in the community to help those that are in need.”

Drew Bennett, Keith Bulluck, Erron Kinney and Peter Sirmon were finalists for the prestigious award.  These players were named “Titans Community All-Stars” for their significant community service contributions.

“I continue to be very proud of all of the terrific charitable work done by Steve and all of our players,” said Titans Owner/President K.S. “Bud” Adams, Jr.  “It is very important to my wife (Nancy) and me that everyone in the Titans organization accepts their responsibility to help improve the lives of those less fortunate.”

McNair has made a significant impact in Tennessee since the team’s arrival in 1997.  Now in his 11th season with the Oilers/Titans franchise, he earned NFL MVP honors in 2003 and led the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV.  Today’s honor recognizes his MVP status off the field as well.

Steve and his wife Mechelle are active philanthropists in the Nashville community and founded the Steve McNair Foundation in 2000 to assist with causes dear to Steve and his family. Today. over 25 non-profit organizations throughout Tennessee and Mississippi have benefited from his foundation.  McNair is devoted to serving underprivileged youth through programs focusing on inspiring and empowering today’s youth to utilize the educational and civic opportunities available to them.  McNair also strongly believes in giving his personal time, energy and attention to many worthwhile endeavors.

McNair fields questions from reporters during his press conference Monday at Baptist Sports Park.

“Steve has been doing this for years and he really stepped up this year, not only with his Katrina Relief efforts, but all of the other great things he has done,” said Head Coach Jeff Fisher.  “I know that Steve will accept this award on behalf of his teammates because his teammates have also done a lot of work in the community.  This is not a race to see who wins the award, it’s basically very, very important to each and every one of them.”

As a former Bears teammate of Walter Payton, Fisher knows first-hand why this award is named for Payton.

“There is no better example of a professional on and off the field than Walter Payton,” Fisher continued.  “His legacy will live forever.  It will live not only through the Community Man of the Year Award, but through many other awards throughout the country.  You just can’t think of any better player than Walter to serve as an example to today’s players and the players of the future!”

“This is very special because I was a great fan of Walter,” McNair added.  “He showed his leadership throughout his career both on and off the field.  Plus, he played at Jackson State, one of the biggest rivals I had in college (Alcorn State) and it’s incredibly rewarding to accept this award named after him.”

Most recently, McNair was personally impacted by Hurricane Katrina as his home and family are in Mississippi.  McNair hosted a relief drive in the parking lot of Titans Coliseum to aid the victims on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and surrounding areas for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.

Steve’s foundation collected 20 semi-trucks full of supplies and $50,000 during the 12-hour relief drive.  McNair then joined Brett Favre and Peyton Manning as NFL spokesmen for the Hurricane Relief Fund in partnership with the American Red Cross.  To date, the Steve McNair Foundation has raised in excess of $250,000 for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund and has distributed approximately 500,000 pounds of supplies.  A distribution center has been set up in the Waveland/Bay St. Louis, MS area for anyone needing supplies. 

“Every year we have many, many players that make a significant contribution to a number of charities,” continued Fisher.  “They do it without the intention of getting personal recognition and that is what Steve and his teammates are all about.”

McNair will now compete with the other 31 NFL team winners for the prestigious Walter Payton/NFL Man of the Year Award where the winner will be honored during the Super Bowl in Detroit.  The inaugural winner of the NFL Man of the Year Award was legendary Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas in 1970.  Warren Moon is the only player in Oilers/Titans franchise history to win the overall NFL award as a member of the Houston Oilers in 1989.