Does Steve McNair Belong In the Hall of Fame?

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 8, 2009 10:34 AM EDT

In a poll from a recent story here on Baltimore Beatdown, voters overwhelmingly believe the answer to the above question is a resounding "Yes." However, many of the experts say that while he had a very good career, was a great guy and suffered a tragic death, his numbers do not necessarily earn him a spot in the hallowed halls of Canton. The Pro Fotball Hall of Fame is reserved for the very best, and many people think while McNair embodied everything a professional football player should be, that alone doesn't get him in.

I beg to differ and here's why: McNair's stats are arguably as good as some of the recent inductees to the Hall, including Troy Aikman, Warren Moon and even Steve Young.

Click on the "Jump" to see the comparisons.

Here's a look at how McNair compares career-wise with Aikman (inducted 2000), Moon (inducted 2000) and Young (inducted 1999):

NAME GAMES ATT. COMP. YARDS TD INT RUSH YARDS TD

McNair 161 4,544 2,733 31,304 174 119 669 3,590 37

Aikman 165 4,715 2,898 32,942 165 141 327 1,016 9

Moon 208 6,823 3,988 49,325 291 233 543 1,736 22

Young 169 4,149 2,667 33,124 232 107 722 4,239 42

While Warren Moon's stats are much higher, they were accomplished in over 40 more games and over 2,000 more attempts than McNair. However, both Aikman's and Young's stats are much closer to McNair's and compare favorably. The differences that stand out number-wise are the number of TD's that Young had compared to the other two and the rushing stats that Young has that even eclipsed McNair's excellent numbers.

The thing that separates Moon from McNair are just sheer career numbers and justifes Moon's inclusion in the Hall. However, the thing that separates both Aikman and Young from McNair are their three Super Bowl rings that each has won in their r4espective careers. That might be, and justly so, the only reason that Steve McNair does not get enough votes to be enshrined in Canton.

However, to many Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens' fans, he is already enshrined in their hearts as the consummate warrior and deserves to be strongly considered for pro football's highest honor.

Poll

Does Steve McNair deserve to be in the Hall of Fame alongside both Troy Aikman and Steve Young?

Yes, his numbers are comparable.

1008 votes

No, their Super Bowl rings set them apart.

481 votes

1489 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 40 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Completion %:

Steve 60%- Close but no. never performed up to his always talented teams potential. frequently had the best team in football or top 3 and couldn’t get over the hump. his throw was behind Eddie George if you remember when Ray snatched it. Steve just couldn’t win the big one…neither can Fisher who seems to sabotage his teams in the end. a pick every 24 comps.

Young 64% no question. a pick every 25 comps. threw 400 times less than McNaire but had 60 more TD’s!!! If this is HOF material than maybe McNaire shouldn’t be in the same class.

Moon 53% no way. a pick every 17 completions. to blow that lead against Buffalo that knocked the Oilers out is not HOF material. Chuck and duck QB.

Aikman 61% no. a pick every 20 comps. surrounded by massive HOF talent. big Texas money. Turf QB. Not as accurate as I thought he was at 61%. Great but not HOF.

by raven on Jul 8, 2009 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

Gotta look further...

Moon gets in with sheer numbers, among the best in the history of the league. He was good for so long of a time, putting up consistent stats. Aikman gets in with three SB rings and solid performance. Take away his rings and he doesn’t make it, though.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 9, 2009 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions

It's tough

His numbers are right up there with Young and Aikman, but I think the superbowl rings might make a difference… but then again, he came up a foot short from having one.. it could go either way

by ravsagain on Jul 8, 2009 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

he always came up short..even with us. it’s that last yard, foot or inch that measures champs.

by raven on Jul 8, 2009 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

yea but,

he took a 6-10 team and transformed them into a 13-3

by ravsagain on Jul 8, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Ehhh

Not to sure. He definitely added the stability to our offense that we needed and we definitely would not have gone 13-3 with Boller, but that was the 2nd greatest defensive year this team has ever had. We just absolutely ran the league that year on the defensive side of the ball and they were a great deal of why we did so good. But McNair did have a very important role in that year.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 8, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I could care less if we go 8-8 in the regular season or 16-0. If we don’t win the Super Bowl, we still lost when it mattered most. Ask the Patriots how they feel about that. The fact of the matter is that as soon as he got the chance to show Baltimore how much he deserved to be in the Hall of Fame by being such an amazing leader in the playoffs, he lost his shit against the Colts. They scored precisely zero touchdowns against us, and they still made us look bad. The former co-MVP’s had equally poor performances statistically in that game, but Peyton came out with the win and, later, the Super Bowl victory, and that’s a big reason why he’ll be in the Hall of Fame.

As far as the transformation from 6-10 to 13-3, I always thought it had more to do with having one of the most dominant defenses in the history of the NFL than with having Steve McNair. Compare his stats from that year with Flacco’s from last season.

63% (McNair) completion percentage to 60% (Flacco)
3050 passing yards to 2971
16TD/12Int to 14TD/12Int

Fairly similar, with McNair having a slight edge. We’ve been saying all off-season that Flacco did well for a rookie, but that he needs to step up and break out next season. And you attribute the 2005-2006 turnaround to a quarterback with stats that were similar to a rookie we know can do better? There are arguments for why McNair should be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but none that deal with his time in Baltimore. If anything, that choke game against the Colts would be a great reason to keep him out.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Jul 8, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

The best always seem to find a way to win

McNair was good, but not great and just couldn’t get that final win when he needed it, much less that one yard. Loved the guy, but sorry.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 9, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

I take it back on Aikman, he deserves it. He owned much of a decade but Emmitt Smiths contributions where above and beyond the help Young, McNaire, Moon and Young got from the backfield.

by raven on Jul 8, 2009 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

Nice to have Emmitt and Irvin

with you behind a mamoth o-line, huh?

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 9, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Yea

And nice for Young to have Rice. Moon to have Hershal Walker.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 9, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

At least McNair had Eddie George for most of his career

but no special wideout to make him look better. That’s why he had so much grit and determination, as he did most of it on his own. How good would the others have been w/o the stars alongside of them. Troy to the Hall w/o Emmitt and Irvin? Doubtful. Young, perhaps.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 9, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

George is NO emmit smith though

that’s for sure.. and not like he always had that dominant wr

by ravsagain on Jul 9, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 9, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

God Damn! Warren Moon put some yards up.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 8, 2009 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

Comparisons

Fran Tarkenton threw the ball all over the place, never won a super bowl and is in the HOF. Dan Marino – same and in the HOF.
Sonny Jurgenson – HOF

So, championships don’t determine HOF eligibility. But there is a good chance that the final off field activity would keep Steve out.

by CowboyFan1 on Jul 8, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions

Tarkenton had serious yardage, Steve didn't in comparison.

Plus Fran made what, four SB’s? And was one of the first well known “scramblers.” I even read his book when I was a kid, “Better Scramble Than Lose.”

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 9, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I think this whole situation will be a reason he gets in. He is definitely one of the toughest players to ever come through the NFL, and he DID do alot of great things on the field. He has some great numbers, but they are a little borderline. But with his tragic death, I think it will make a lot of the voters change their minds and make sure Steve gets in Canton.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 8, 2009 6:07 PM EDT reply actions

If all it takes is getting shot, then Plaxico is as good as gold.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Jul 8, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Really?

I dunno man, usually controversy tends to postpone entry i.e. Michael Irvin. If he does get in, I doubt it will be a first ballot, if at all…

by adh on Jul 8, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

But this is like a feel bad type story.

McNair was not on cocaine or carrying a loaded gun in a night club. He was murdered, and that is a terrible tragedy.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 8, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes but

It was a murder suicide of a woman he was cheating on his wife with. I really doubt that will help his status.

by DT711 on Jul 9, 2009 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions

i have to give major extra credit for championship winners for HOF election…unless they absolutely dominated. marino as a HOF is suspect and his last playoff game was a joke…chuck and duck guys can get huge stats especially if they play for 10 years or more. longevity blinds people. you have to ask if that player was feared every game out? McNaire? I don’t know. Cal Ripken? I don’t know. lol.

by raven on Jul 8, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions

I Think...

The players should decide these things. Writers and fans don’t know up from down half the time.

by NinerBacker on Jul 8, 2009 9:01 PM EDT reply actions

Not the players

They’d vote everyone in!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 9, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

maybe not

the main reason is that is now the rings may get you a mention. also what happen durrnig the passing is another issue. i hope that he is but the rules are becoming worse and worse

by 2000 ravens on Jul 8, 2009 10:23 PM EDT reply actions

I think he should

What sucks is once every non respecting fan gets over his death, theyll say he only got into the Hall because he died.

Stats dont matter as much, and i wish everyone stopped caring about them. McNair was never always greatly complimented by an outstanding receiving cast or defense at times, but he almost always had the team on his back and carried them further than many other QBs could have

He graced us with one of the most amazing drives in a Superbowl (esp considering it wasnt a winning one) and defined the QB position in a way many didnt think possible. He was tough as guts and was never afraid to put body on the line

I will remember him longer than i will remember guys like Manning or Brady, simply because those guys played in a system, where everything was so technical. This guy did what he had to, when he had to, for his entire career. He cannot be blamed for not making a Superbowl Championship.

RIP McNair…I hope to see more headbanging QBs like you in the future

Bleeding Black and Gold.....forever

by Michael Hewitt on Jul 9, 2009 9:06 AM EDT reply actions

i don't think so

Mc Nair was a fine player, but not a HOFer. And my opinion has nothing to do with the circumstances surrounding his death.

If Mc Nair makes it, so should Drew Bledsoe, who was also a fine player with good numbers.

by hsshea on Jul 9, 2009 9:12 AM EDT reply actions

Honorable Mention

If there was such a category, yes for McNair but not in The Hall.

Championships help one’s chance, but are not the only criteria for getting into the Hall. Moon: no rings, but gawdy stats; Young: one ring, but very good stats; Aikamn: three rings and pretty good stats. In the comparison above, McNair most closely compares to Aikman, but Aikman trumps with his three rings.

by vlad755 on Jul 9, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

He does not belong

As much as I hate to say it, he should not get into Canton.

by DT711 on Jul 9, 2009 12:53 PM EDT reply actions

agree. it would be nice to honor his toughness but he falls just short.

by raven on Jul 9, 2009 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

Hell yeah!

he should be in.

Sliced bread is the best thing since Matt Wieters.

The Orioles are in the WIN column!

by BaltimoreSportsFan on Jul 10, 2009 8:29 AM EDT reply actions

A great guy

but his pure stats equal a bunch of QB’s not in the Hall and just because he was a warrior and co-MVP, that alone doesn’t not merit inclusion.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 10, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Open up the FLOOD GATES

You can take stats from a lot of QBs in the league match them up against those QBs in the Hall of Fame and say…. Wow they compare rather well. My guy should be in the Hall of fame….

Doesn’t work that way…. Boomer Esiason put up better numbers then the QBs on that list. I am a huge Boomer fan, but by no means does Boomer Deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

Boomer took a 3-9 Bengals team transformed them into a 12-4 Superbowl runners up in a game they almost knocked the 49ers off. He was a 1 time NFL MVP, 4-Time Pro bowler, 247 TD passes, 37920 yards….

So you look at his numbers up against those listed in the article Especially those listed in the article.

Just because, McNair was murdered, because he was cheating on his wife with a mistress, who killed him, because she thought he was cheating on her, with yet another Mistress doesn’t make McNair Hall of Fame Material.

If you let McNair in the Hall of Fame then what solid starting QB doesn’t deserve to be in?? Certainly Boomer Esiason would have to go in right next to him.

In a matter of fact you don’t know much about football if you think he should be in the hall of fame.

by chuckyj1 on Jul 11, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

That theory would open the door for a lot of others who have sheer numbers

but it opened the door for Warren Moon, so is Vinny Testeverde a lock? He’s got to have a ton of numbers since he was in the league for around a 100 years.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 11, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope you are agreeing with me....

I am saying Boomer and Certainly not McNair deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

They put up solid numbers, but that alone doesn’t make you Hall of Fame material.

I really hope this is a joke topic, because by no means McNair deserve the Hall of Fame, because he was murdered.

by chuckyj1 on Jul 12, 2009 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Not a joke topic at all

McNair was a solid QB for 13 years in the league, leading his team t a yard shy of a Super Bowl victory and was a co-MVP. He put up very good numbers and deserves mention. Perhaps not induction, but mention nonetheless. The only reason we’re talking about it now rather than in a few years, is tat he is no longer w/ us.

A joke topic? Not at all.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 12, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Simple....

If McNair gets voted in it will definitely water down the numbers it takes to get in. He no where near put up the numbers moon put up are you crazy??

Moon 9-Time Pro bowler, nearly 50,000 yrds nearly 300 TDs…… Not to mention the tremendous success Moon had in other pro-football leagues.

I don’t know what stats your comparing, but man are you off.

If McNair got in….Which he wont. It would open up a flood gate of mediocre, yet, solid QBs that would need to be reconsidered. McNair was definitely a solid NFL QB….

But, a hall of fame QB….. Don’t let sympathy get in the way of common sense.

by chuckyj1 on Jul 12, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Boomer

I would need to see all of Boomer stats, but he may probably be most comparable to Young (Young’s completion percentage and rushing stats are much higher than Boomer’s; Boomer threw significantly more picks than Young did), except for one thing: and that is the ring that Young has and Boomer does not. It seems to me that once you reach a certain level in stats, say an Aikman, Boomer, McNair et al, then it comes down to were they able to get it done and win it all? If so, they get in; if not, sorry ’bout that… Or, in the case of Tarkenton, Moon, et al their stats are just so unreal then they almost have to let them in, ring or no ring.

by vlad755 on Jul 13, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions