Fall of a Titan

SI True Crime

4.3 (1.7K)
TRUE CRIME
SERIES

July 4, 2009. Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair is found murdered in his Nashville condo. After just four days of investigating it was ruled a murder-suicide. But what if it wasn’t? Over the course of this nine-part series, host Tim Rohan will guide you through the McNair case, reviewing the findings and re-examining crucial details in a new light.

EPISODE 1

The Private Eye

Shortly after Steve McNair’s death, a former Nashville police officer named Vincent Hill starts digging into the case on his own, reaching out to the victims’ friends and family, talking to people tied to the events of July 4, 2009, and sifting through the swirling rumors. He also does a few TV interviews, questioning just about everything police say. When Hill realizes there’s an audience for his viewpoint, he takes his media tour to a whole new level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39 min
EPISODE 2

The Quarterback and the Professor

Vincent Hill introduces us to his investigative partner of sorts: Dr. Alvin Simpson, a close family friend of Steve McNair’s. Doc met Steve back at Alcorn State, where McNair was the star quarterback and where Doc was everyone’s favorite professor. Now Doc takes us on a trip back to Mississippi, to explore Steve’s history and to retrace the steps that led him to the condo where he was killed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39 min
EPISODE 3

The Waitress

Steve McNair is retired from football, he’s trying to find his identity and his marriage appears to be on the rocks. Then he meets Jenni Kazemi, a 19-year-old Dave & Buster’s waitress, and they strike up a fast romance. When Steve and Jenni turn up dead six months later, investigators point a finger almost immediately at Jenni. They portray her as spiraling out of control, fueled by jealousy and financial freefall. But that isn’t the Jenni friends and family knew. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

49 min
EPISODE 4

The Ex-Con and the Ex-Boyfriend

Jenni Kazemi’s phone records show that, in the last few weeks of her life, she was in regular contact with a number of male suitors. One of those men: Adrian Gilliam, an ex-con who allegedly sold Jenni the murder weapon. Another: Keith Norfleet, her ex-boyfriend who appeared to be jealous Jenni was dating McNair. The police interview and clear both men. But at least one of them seems to have lied about his alibi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

55 min
EPISODE 5

The Bodyguard

On the afternoon of July 4, 2009, one of Steve McNair’s friends, Wayne Neeley, drops by McNair’s downtown condo and quickly realizes he’s stumbled upon a crime scene. Neeley calls Robert Gaddy, Steve McNair’s bodyguard and close friend, and Gaddy says: Wait there; I’ll be right over. But 55 minutes pass between Neeley’s arrival and Gaddy’s call to 9-1-1. Why did the two men wait so long to call police? And what did they find in that condo? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

49 min
EPISODE 6

The Mother and the Sister

In the aftermath of what police rule a murder-suicide, two family members on opposite sides of the tragedy take a serious and active interest in the case: Steve McNair’s mother, Lucille, and Jenni Kazemi’s older sister. Both women are distraught. Both have questions. Both go in search of answers. And that search leads them each to the same place: the Nashville Police Department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

57 min
EPISODE 7

The Widow

Over the course of his 13-year NFL career, Steve McNair reportedly earned at least $90 million, and in the aftermath of his death those close to him wonder: Had McNair left behind a will explaining how to pass this on? He had. But it was unsigned. And so control over his estate is left to his estranged widow, Mechelle. The settling of that estate doesn’t exactly go over smoothly, and certain people are left to wonder: Why was the person who had perhaps the most to gain from Steve McNair’s death never interviewed by police? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

55 min
EPISODE 8

The Homicide-Cold Case Unit

After months of combing through the Steve McNair case, our reporter sits down with two Nashville PD detectives who worked the investigation as members of the department’s prestigious Homicide-Cold Case Unit: Pat Postiglione and Charles Robinson. As the two men defend their investigation, they reveal a startling new detail about Jenni Kazemi—a detail that could change the entire complexion of the case … if it’s even true. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

51 min
EPISODE 9

Epilogue

Vincent Hill presents evidence before a Nashville Grand Jury, asking to formally re-open the Steve McNair case. After that fails, Hill’s own investigation hits a roadblock. Our reporter takes stock of where everything stands now, the questions that remain unanswered, and what it’ll take for the case to ever get re-opened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

47 min
SEASON 1 TRAILER

Introduction to Fall of a Titan

SI: True Crime’s first narrative podcast, “Steve McNair: Fall of a Titan” will make you re-examine everything you think you know about the quarterback. His death, on July 4, 2009, was ruled a murder-suicide. But what if it wasn’t? Over the course of this nine-part series, we’ll guide you through the McNair case, reviewing the findings and re-examining crucial details in a new light. Coming October 17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 min

See All Season 1 (10)

TRAILER

Introduction to Fall of a Titan

SI: True Crime’s first narrative podcast, “Steve McNair: Fall of a Titan” will make you re-examine everything you think you know about the quarterback. His death, on July 4, 2009, was ruled a murder-suicide. But what if it wasn’t? Over the course of this nine-part series, we’ll guide you through the McNair case, reviewing the findings and re-examining crucial details in a new light. Coming October 17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S1

•

6 min

4.3

out of 5

1,671 Ratings

A New Look at Steve McNair

11/08/2022

Teri Tanner

Interesting podcast that doesn’t really answer the questions raised. I’d be very interested in an update telling us what his widow, “bodyguard” and guy who last owned the gun are doing today. His wife sure seemed to benefit the most from his death.
Nothing To See Here

Aug 22

I Need A Cheeseburger ASAP

The interest in this story is still alive, long after this tragic event occurred. With that being said, the “questions” that are raised from this new “investigation” are offensive and inflammatory to the victim and both families left behind. The former police officer is bonkers, quite frankly and shamelessly passing himself off as wanting to get to the truth, when in actuality he’s really an opportunist trying desperately to attach himself to this story as an expert. The remaining bits and pieces are from friends and associates who knew the subject and his killer. For all of the wild theories and assumptions that are stated here, there is no new evidence that points to someone else committing this crime.
Awesome documentary!

06/14/2023

Lady Reea A

For someone who always questioned the official narrative based on the forensic evidence that WAS known, it definitely reinforces the hunch that not only was Kazemi innocent but that his murder was covered up to avoid what was going on behind the scenes that was an even bigger issue. If the only Justice that can be had at this point is pointing out what not done to adequately solve the case, this documentary does its job.
Boo

02/11/2023

DocCircuitPartier

The worst kind of true crime. They brought nothing to this story, no new information. Really bad.

July 4, 2009. Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair is found murdered in his Nashville condo. After just four days of investigating it was ruled a murder-suicide. But what if it wasn’t? Over the course of this nine-part series, host Tim Rohan will guide you through the McNair case, reviewing the findings and re-examining crucial details in a new light.