{{Short description|American football player (1999–2018)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox college football player | embed = | name = Jordan McNair | image = Jordan McNair.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | school = Maryland Terrapins | currentnumber = | currentposition = Offensive lineman | class = | major = | pastschools = * Maryland (2017) | bowlgames = | highschool = McDonogh School {{nowrap|(Owings Mills, Maryland)}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1999|03|03}} | birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, US | death_date = {{death date and age|2018|06|13|1999|03|03}} | death_place = Baltimore, Maryland, US | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lb = 325 | highlights = | CFBHOF_year = | module = | espn = | cbs = | si = | yahoo = | rivals = }} '''Jordan Martin McNair''' (March 3, 1999 – June 13, 2018) was an American football player from Randallstown, Maryland, who played on the offensive line. In May 2018, following an offseason workout with the Maryland Terrapins football team, McNair was hospitalized with heat stroke; despite an emergency liver transplant, McNair died fifteen days later on June 13, 2018. Following the ensuing investigation of the culture of the University of Maryland football program, head coach D. J. Durkin was fired on October 31.
==Early life and playing career== McNair was the son of Marty McNair and Tonya Wilson.<ref name=WaPo-2018-09-14/> He was touted as a four-star recruit, ranked in the top 25 nationally for offensive linemen, according to ESPN and Scout. During his high school career, when he played offensive tackle for McDonogh School in Owings Mills, McNair was named to the American Family Insurance All-USA Maryland Football Team (2016) and the ''Baltimore Sun'' All-Metro first team (2015, 2016). McNair was also considering attending Ohio State, Penn State, or Rutgers, and had been extended offers from Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, and Duke, but chose to attend the University of Maryland.<ref name=247HS>{{cite web |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Jordan-McNair-75407/high-school-129025/ |title=Jordan McNair |website=24-7 Sports |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211450001&DB_OEM_ID=29700 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106192215/http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211450001&DB_OEM_ID=29700 |title=Jordan McNair #79, Offensive Lineman |publisher=University of Maryland Terrapins |access-date=1 November 2018 |archive-date=6 November 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He played in one game for the Maryland Terrapins as a true freshman in 2017.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://umterps.com/sports/football/roster/jordan-mcnair/5740 | title=Jordan McNair | publisher=University of Maryland, College Park | accessdate=27 August 2025}}</ref>
==Death== On May 29, 2018, McNair collapsed during a strenuous afternoon practice. He was hospitalized that evening after visibly showing signs of extreme exhaustion with a body temperature of {{convert|106|°F|°C}} recorded upon arrival.<ref name=WaPo-2018-08-13>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/experts-say-maryland-may-have-not-acted-quickly-enough-to-save-football-player/2018/08/13/261b6122-9f25-11e8-8e87-c869fe70a721_story.html |title=Experts say Maryland may not have acted quickly enough to save football player |author=Dougherty, Jesse |date=August 13, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref> He was airlifted later that night to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center<ref name=DBK-2018-08-12 /> to receive an emergency liver transplant,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/many-questions-remain-unanswered-in-death-of-maryland-player-jordan-mcnair/2018/06/14/5c7546d4-6fff-11e8-bf86-a2351b5ece99_story.html |title=Many questions remain unanswered in death of Maryland player Jordan McNair |author=Dougherty, Jesse |date=June 14, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref> where he died on June 13.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/23784122/jordan-mcnair-maryland-terrapins-offensive-lineman-dies-19 |title=Maryland OL Jordan McNair, hospitalized after workout, dies at 19 |first=Heather |last=Dinich |date=June 14, 2018 |work=ESPN |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref> Though no cause of death was initially listed for McNair,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/06/13/jordan-mcnair-maryland-offensive-lineman-dies/ |title=Jordan McNair, Maryland offensive lineman, dies |author=Dougherty, Jesse |date=June 13, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref> on July 16 his parents stated that he died from heat stroke.<ref name=WaPo-2018-07-16>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/07/16/heatstroke-caused-death-of-maryland-offensive-lineman-jordan-mcnair-his-family-announces/ |title=Heatstroke caused death of Maryland offensive lineman Jordan McNair, his family announces |author=Dougherty, Jesse |date=July 16, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=5 November 2018}}</ref> This was corroborated by a report published by ESPN in August, with teammates and medical staff noticing that McNair suffered an apparent seizure at approximately 5 pm, one hour before a 911 call was placed.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/24343021/jordan-mcnair-maryland-terrapins-died-heatstroke-team-workout|title=Sources: Maryland OL Jordan McNair showed signs of extreme exhaustion|first = Heather|last = Dinich|date = August 10, 2018 |work = ESPN}}</ref> University officials dispute the time of the seizure.<ref name=DBK-2018-08-12 />
An investigation started immediately after his death showed that McNair first complained of cramps, an early sign of heat illness, at 4:59 pm<ref name=Walters-2018 />{{rp|27–29}} but did not arrive at the hospital for treatment until 6:36 pm<ref name=Walters-2018 />{{rp|32}} and that trainers failed to recognize the signs of heat illness, nor did they take aggressive measures to cool him.<ref name=Walters-2018/>{{rp|18}} A second investigation, this one covering the culture of the Maryland football program, was started after ESPN published an investigative article on August 10, 2018.<ref name=culture /> Initially, one coach and two trainers were suspended after the ESPN article,<ref name=WaPo-2018-08-10 /> including Rick Court, the strength and conditioning coach named as the primary source of abuse.<ref name=DBK-2018-08-20 /> Court resigned almost immediately after being suspended.<ref name=WaPo-2018-08-15 /> Head coach D.J. Durkin was suspended one day later;<ref name=WaPo-2018-08-11 /> after the second investigation concluded that Maryland football did not have, by definition, a toxic culture, Durkin was reinstated on October 30.<ref name=AP-not-toxic /> Following intense uproar and protest over his return, Durkin was fired the next day by University President Wallace Loh.<ref name=ESPN-2018-10-31 />
===Walters Report=== An independent report was commissioned from Walters Inc., a South Carolina-based sports medicine consulting firm, in June 2018 following the death of McNair, and the report was released on September 21.<ref name=Walters-2018>{{cite report |url=https://www.usmd.edu/newsroom/Walters-Report-to-USM-Board-of-Regents.pdf |title=An Independent Evaluation of Procedures and Protocols Related to the June 2018 death of a University of Maryland Football Student-athlete |date=September 21, 2018 |author=Walters Inc. |publisher=University of Maryland |access-date=1 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923015828/https://www.usmd.edu/newsroom/Walters-Report-to-USM-Board-of-Regents.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/u-md-board-of-regents-releases-report-on-jordan-mcnair-laying-out-timeline-that-led-to-players-death/2018/09/21/49331ea0-bda9-11e8-b7d2-0773aa1e33da_story.html |title=U-Md. releases report on Jordan McNair, laying out timeline that led to player's death |first1=Rick |last1=Maese |first2=Roman |last2=Stubbs |date=September 21, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref> During the investigation, the board of regents of the University System of Maryland assumed control from the campus.<ref name=SI-board /> The Walters report found that trainers failed to identify the symptoms of exertional heat illness, did not take sufficiently aggressive measures to treat McNair's elevated core temperature,<ref name=Walters-2018/>{{rp|18}} and the University's catastrophic incident guideline was not followed.<ref name=Walters-2018/>{{rp|19–20}} When questioned for the development of the Walters report, the head trainer stated he was afraid McNair could have drowned if they had attempted immersing him in cold water to lower his body temperature.<ref name=Walters-2018 />{{rp|31}} <ref name=DBK-2018-11-01>{{cite news |url=http://www.dbknews.com/2018/11/01/maryland-football-board-of-regents-trainers-jordan-mcnair-death/ |title=Report: Board of Regents recommended UMD keep trainers that botched Jordan McNair's treatment |author1=Kostka, Andy |author2=Crabtree-Hannigan, James |date=November 1, 2018 |newspaper=The Diamondback |access-date=5 November 2018}}</ref>
Starting at 4:41 pm, McNair ran the first of 10 timed {{convert|110|yd|abbr=on|adj=on}} runs; athletes in his group were allotted 19 seconds to complete each run, and McNair successfully completed seven repetitions.<ref name=Walters-2018 />{{rp|27}} By the eighth repetition, McNair was visibly laboring to complete the training and by 4:59 PM, trainers began to assist McNair, who had described symptoms of cramping.<ref name=Walters-2018 />{{rp|27–29}} A witness recalled a coach forcing McNair to finish the sequence of sprints despite struggling mightily, telling his teammates to "drag his ass across the field".<ref name=Walters-2018/>{{rp|Appx B}} <ref name = culture />
McNair was taken from the field at 5:22 pm for further treatment, including cooling with cold towels, until he exhibited a mental status change at 5:50 pm. Trainers then called the team physician at 5:52 pm and, at the physician's direction, followed up with an emergency call to 9-1-1 at 5:55 pm. At approximately the same time, McNair experienced a seizure.<ref name=Walters-2018 />{{rp|30–31}} The 9-1-1 records indicate the first call was recorded at approximately 5:57 pm and the caller only stated that McNair was "hyperventilating" and "unable to control his breathing" without mentioning a seizure.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dbknews.com/2018/07/19/jordan-mcnair-maryland-football-death-911-call-heatstroke/ |title=911 records indicate medics did not recognize severity of Jordan McNair's condition |author=Crabtree-Hannigan, James |date=July 19, 2018 |newspaper=The Diamondback |access-date=5 November 2018}}</ref> At 6:02 pm, the head trainer called campus security to report respiratory distress experienced during the seizure, to ensure that paramedics would be available.<ref name=Walters-2018 />{{rp|31}}
The first ambulance arrived at 6:03 pm.<ref name=Walters-2018 />{{rp|32}} No one had been sent to meet the first ambulance and direct it to the Gossett Football Team House, where McNair was being treated.<ref name=Walters-2018 />{{rp|31–32}} <ref name=DBK-2018-11-01 /> In addition, in Prince George's County, first responder ambulances do not carry paramedics, so a second ambulance was dispatched with paramedics at approximately 6:07 pm.<ref name=DBK-2018-08-12>{{cite news |url=http://www.dbknews.com/2018/08/13/jordan-mcnair-maryland-football-death-heatstroke-seizure-medical-records-investigation/ |title=Medical records contradict UMD's timeline of events leading to Jordan McNair's death, per report |author=Crabtree-Hannigan, James |date=August 12, 2018 |newspaper=The Diamondback |access-date=5 November 2018}}</ref><ref name=Walters-2018 />{{rp|31}} The second ambulance arrived at 6:11 pm and, after an intravenous line was secured, departed at 6:27 pm; McNair was transported to Washington Adventist Hospital, arriving at 6:36 pm.<ref name=Walters-2018 />{{rp|32}}
At the hospital, McNair's body temperature cooled to {{convert|102|°F}} after 12 minutes of immersion in ice and water, but medical experts commenting after his death believed that cooling occurred too late.<ref name=WaPo-2018-08-13 /> Doctors at Washington Adventist noted "patient improving" by 8:32 PM before he was airlifted to R Adams Cowley.<ref name=DBK-2018-08-12 />
==Resulting investigation of Maryland football program== ===Toxic culture reported=== After McNair's death, ESPN questioned current and former players for Maryland football as well as people close to the program, going on to publish an investigative report on August 10, 2018.<ref name=culture /> In the report, ESPN found evidence of a toxic culture instilled by the coaching staff led by head coach D.J. Durkin and strength and conditioning coach Rick Court,<ref name = culture>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/24342005/maryland-terrapins-football-culture-toxic-coach-dj-durkin|title=The inside story of a toxic culture at Maryland football|publisher = ESPN|date = August 10, 2018|first1 = Heather |last1=Dinich |first2=Adam |last2=Rittenberg |first3=Tom |last3=VanHaaren}}</ref> who Durkin had once called his "most important hire" in an interview shortly after accepting the position of head coach in December 2015.<ref name=WaPo-2018-08-15 /><ref>{{cite interview |url=https://www.si.com/college-football/2016/04/27/dj-durkin-qa-maryland-coach-talks-his-new-job |title=The right man for Maryland? Terps coach D.J. Durkin on his new job and playing one-on-one versus Jim Harbaugh |subject=D.J. Durkin |interviewer=Pete Thamel |interviewer-link=Pete Thamel |date=April 27, 2016 |work=Campus Rush |publisher=Sports Illustrated |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref> Players interviewed in August 2016 after the first full offseason with Court agreed,<ref name=CCT-2016-08-09>{{cite news |url=https://www.carrollcountytimes.com/sports/colleges/maryland/ph-cc-sp-terps-court-strength-0810-20160809-story.html |title=In strength coach Rick Court, Terps say they have 'the best there is' |author=Gallen, Daniel |date=August 9, 2016 |newspaper=Carroll County Times |access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref> and a comparison of Terrapin player weights between the Spring 2016 and Fall 2016 media guides showed notable differences.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.carrollcountytimes.com/sports/colleges/maryland/ph-cc-sp-terps-height-weights-0809-story.html |title=Maryland football: The numerical impact of strength coach Rick Court |author=Gallen, Daniel |date=August 9, 2016 |newspaper=Carroll County Times |access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref> Players reported the intensity of voluntary workouts in June and July 2018 decreased after McNair's death was announced, but resumed normal intensity in August.<ref name=culture />
{{quotebox |width=25em |quote=It's so important, I believe, that the strength coach and the head coach are directly in line with one another in terms of what's important, what's the message we're delivering, and Rick and I are. We're totally synchronized in that and so he's huge. He's critical to all we do. |author=Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin |source=quoted in ''Carroll County Times'' article published on August 9, 2016<ref name=CCT-2016-08-09 />}} In general, the strength and conditioning coach has been named "perhaps the most important person on a school's coaching roster besides the head coach" because of NCAA rules that prohibit head and position coaches from holding offseason practices, but permit up to eight hours of strength and conditioning activities per week during those times.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theringer.com/2017/1/19/16043112/college-football-isnt-as-safe-as-it-could-be-dc84bc2c333e |title=College Football Isn't As Safe As It Could Be |author=Sherman, Rodger |date=January 19, 2017 |work=The Ringer |access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref> This in turn means the strength and conditioning coach essentially is responsible for the team during the offseason.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theringer.com/2018/11/1/18053584/maryland-terrapins-dj-durkin-head-coach-fired |title=Maryland Sold Its Soul Only to Fire D.J. Durkin |author=Sherman, Rodger |date=November 1, 2018 |work=The Ringer |access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref> Michael Baumann, a sportswriter for ''The Ringer'', characterized Court's behavior as "bullying" and pointed out there are no protections afforded to college football players who were at the mercy of their coaches' authority: "[C]ollege football coaches are afforded broad power over their players. They frequently determine the class schedule and course of study for the players in their charge. They control how much an individual student-athlete plays, and under what circumstances. Those decisions could have million-dollar consequences on a player’s NFL career."<ref name=Ringer-2018-08-15>{{cite news |url=https://www.theringer.com/2018/8/15/17691580/university-maryland-dj-durkin-rick-court-jordan-mcnair |title=The Tragedy of Maryland Football Is a Symptom of College Football's Rotten Culture |date=August 15, 2018 |work=The Ringer |author=Baumann, Michael |access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref>
Many of the individuals interviewed described the coaches carrying out questionable behaviors such as:
*Belittling and humiliating certain players, including forcing an overweight player to eat candy bars while watching his teammates work out<ref name=WaPo-2018-08-15 /> *Fear and intimidation tactics such as excessive verbal abuse for players who fail to complete workouts, including one who passed out *Extreme punishments such as forcing an injured lineman to compete in a tug of war competition by himself with one hand against all the defensive backs *Endorsing unhealthy eating habits such as forcing underweight players to binge eat to gain weight
In the wake of these allegations, the University accepted responsibility for McNair's death and placed several athletic staffers, including Court, on administrative leave.<ref name=WBAL-2018-08-15 /> President Loh and director of athletics Damon Evans met privately with McNair's parents in the morning of August 14 to apologize personally before making a public admission of responsibility and follow-up actions later that afternoon.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pressboxonline.com/2018/08/14/wallace-loh-maryland-accepts-legal-and-moral-responsibility-for-jordan-mcnair-death |title=Wallace Loh: Maryland 'Accepts Legal And Moral Responsibility' For Jordan McNair Death |first=Luke |last=Jackson |date=August 14, 2018 |newspaper=Pressbox |access-date=2 November 2018 |archive-date=October 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009092548/https://www.pressboxonline.com/2018/08/14/wallace-loh-maryland-accepts-legal-and-moral-responsibility-for-jordan-mcnair-death |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Culture investigation=== The university also commissioned an independent panel to investigate the toxic culture allegations;<ref name=WBAL-2018-08-15>{{cite news |url=https://www.wbaltv.com/article/university-of-maryland-apologizes-to-mcnair-family/22727024 |title=University of Maryland accepts responsibility for Jordan McNair's death |first1=Kim |last1=Dacey |first2=Karen |last2=Campbell |first3=Jenny |last3=Fulginiti |date=August 15, 2018 |work=WBAL TV 11 |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bs-sp-schmuck-terps-football-column-20180814-story.html |title=Schmuck: After Jordan McNair's death, why isn't Maryland athletic director Damon Evans on leave, too? |first=Peter |last=Schmuck |date=August 14, 2018 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=1 November 2018 |archive-date=October 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002143603/http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bs-sp-schmuck-terps-football-column-20180814-story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> the panel initially was made up of four members appointed by Loh: two retired judges, a former federal prosecutor, and an unfilled position for a former football coach and athletic administrator.<ref name=DBK-board>{{cite news |url=http://www.dbknews.com/2018/08/14/maryland-football-jordan-mcnair-death-investigation-external-review-walters-inc/ |title=UMD announces task force investigating reports of abuse in football program |first=Andy |last=Kostka |date=August 14, 2018 |newspaper=The Diamondback |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> After the board of regents took over responsibility for both investigations on August 17,<ref name=SI-board>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/08/17/maryland-board-regents-investigations-jordan-mcnair-death-toxic-coaching-culture |title=Maryland's Board of Regents Assumes Control of Both Investigations Into Football Program |author=West, Jenna |date=August 17, 2018 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> it was modified to eight members: five were appointed by the board of regents, and the remaining three had been originally appointed to the four-member panel by Loh (Legg, Scheeler, and Williams).<ref name=DBK-board /><ref name=NYT-2018-10-30 />
The panel consisted of:<ref name=culture-report />{{rp|18–20}} {{div col |colwidth=25em |gap=2em}} * Frederick M. Azar, M.D. * Bonnie Lynn Bernstein * Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. * Hon. Benson Everett Legg * Hon. C. Thomas McMillen * Charles P. Scheeler * Hon. Alexander Williams Jr. * Douglas Lee Williams {{div col end}}
In a letter sent to parents of Maryland players before the ESPN report's publication, Durkin stated that he was aware of the investigation and that he is fully cooperating with it.<ref name=WaPo-2018-08-10>{{cite news|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/maryland-places-athletic-staffers-on-leave-in-wake-of-football-players-death/2018/08/10/26012958-9ce9-11e8-843b-36e177f3081c_story.html |title = Maryland places athletic staffers on leave in wake of football player's death|first = Jesse|last = Dougherty|date = August 10, 2018|newspaper = The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bs-sp-football-staff-maryland-leave-20180810-story.html|title = Amid review of Jordan McNair's death, Maryland places football staffers on leave as DJ Durkin remains in charge|date = August 10, 2018|access-date = August 11, 2018|work = The Baltimore Sun|first1 = Don|last1 = Markus|first2 = Jonas|last2 = Shaffer|archive-date = August 11, 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180811011925/http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/tracking-the-terps/bs-sp-football-staff-maryland-leave-20180810-story.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> Court resigned from his position on August 13, 2018, shortly after being suspended.<ref name=WaPo-2018-08-15>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/08/15/he-came-to-maryland-to-change-its-football-culture-now-rick-court-is-the-first-out-the-door/ |title=He came to Maryland to change its football culture. Now Rick Court is the first out the door. |first1=Roman |last1=Stubbs |date=August 15, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.testudotimes.com/maryland-terps-football/2018/8/14/17689148/rick-court-maryland-football-bio-strength-conditioning-jordan-mcnair|title= Why Maryland 'parted ways' with football strength & conditioning coach Rick Court |work = Testudo Times|publisher = SB Nation|first= Thomas|last = Kendziora|date = August 14, 2018|access-date = September 3, 2018}}</ref>
On August 11, 2018, Durkin was also placed on administrative leave and Matt Canada was named interim head coach until the culture investigation was completed. Punishments would be determined upon the investigation's conclusion.<ref name=WaPo-2018-08-11>{{cite news |title=Maryland places DJ Durkin on administrative leave amid reports of football program's toxic culture |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2018/08/11/maryland-football-program-under-fire-in-wake-of-reports-on-toxic-culture/ |first1=Rick |last1=Maese |first2=Roman |last2=Stubbs |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref> Members of the Champions Club, an athletic booster organization at Maryland, expressed their support for Durkin in a letter sent to the board of regents later in August.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dbknews.com/2018/08/31/maryland-football-scandal-dj-durkin-donors-jordan-mcnair-culture/ |title=Top Maryland athletics donors show support for DJ Durkin in letter to Board of Regents |first=Andy |last=Kostka |date=August 30, 2018 |newspaper=The Diamondback |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> Members of the Champions Club stated there was no evidence of a toxic culture and that Durkin could be "welcomed back by the fans, by the players, by the donors with open arms."<ref name=Jacklitsch>{{cite news |url=http://www.dbknews.com/2018/10/01/maryland-football-coach-dj-durkin-scandal-investigation-abuse-espn-jordan-mcnair/ |title=Despite mounting evidence, top boosters stand by Maryland football's DJ Durkin |first=Andy |last=Kostka |date=October 1, 2018 |newspaper=The Diamondback |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> Champions Club member Rick Jaklitsch faulted McNair for improper hydration: "As much as we hate to say this, Jordan didn't do what Jordan was supposed to do. A trainer like Wes Robinson thinks a kid's properly hydrated and runs a drill set up for kids that are properly hydrated, and when the kid didn't drink the gallon [of water] he knew he had to drink, that's going to send the wrong signal to the person running the drill."<ref name=Jacklitsch /> When the football team traveled to play Michigan, Jaklitsch was removed from the team's flight after his remarks were made public.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/24920536/controversial-maryland-booster-removed-trip |title=Booster removed after controversial comments on McNair |first=Adam |last=Rittenberg |date=October 7, 2018 |work=ESPN |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dbknews.com/2018/10/08/maryland-football-boosters-jordan-mcnair-scandal-jaklitsch-dj-durkin/ |title=Maryland booster removed from football team travel group following McNair comments |first=Andy |last=Kostka |date=October 8, 2018 |newspaper=The Diamondback |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref>
The report leaked ahead of its public release; according to a copy obtained by the Associated Press in late October,<ref name=AP-not-toxic>{{cite news |url=https://collegefootball.ap.org/article/report-maryland-football-not-toxic-has-problems |title=Report: Maryland football not 'toxic,' but has problems |author=Ginsberg, David |agency=AP |date=October 25, 2018 |work=Associated Press |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref> it faulted the Athletics Department for not adequately supporting Durkin,<ref name=culture-report>{{cite report |url=https://htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/files/report-to-usm-independent-investigation-umd-footbal-10-23-2018-1540848730.pdf |title=Report to the University System of Maryland of an Independent Investigation of the University of Maryland Football Program |date=October 23, 2018 |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref>{{rp|5–7}} blamed Court for unacceptably abusive behavior,<ref name=culture-report/>{{rp|7–8}} and concluded that "Maryland's football culture was not toxic" by definition.<ref name=culture-report/>{{rp|12}} Despite a claimed open door policy, players and assistants "feared retribution and dismissal of their concerns because of the closeness of Mr. Durkin and Mr. Court",<ref name=culture-report/>{{rp|12–13}} and "players rarely felt comfortable sharing concerns with [Durkin]".<ref name=culture-report/>{{rp|13}} The conclusion that the culture was "not toxic" was ridiculed by sports writers Claire McNear (for ''The Ringer''),<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theringer.com/2018/10/30/18045516/maryland-terrapins-dj-durkin-toxic-culture-college-football |title=By Bringing Back D.J. Durkin, Maryland Shows Just How Toxic College Football's Culture Is |author=McNear, Claire |date=October 30, 2018 |work=The Ringer |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref> Tom Ley (for ''Deadspin''),<ref>{{cite news |url=https://deadspin.com/investigation-finds-toxic-culture-at-maryland-football-1830002866 |title=Investigation Finds Toxic Culture At Maryland Football, Concludes Program's Culture Isn't Toxic |author=Ley, Tom |date=October 25, 2018 |work=Deadspin |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref> Richard Johnson (for ''SB Nation''),<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/11/1/18044642/dj-durkin-maryland-scandal-fired |title=All the absurd ways Maryland bent over backwards to protect DJ Durkin |author=Johnson, Richard |date=November 1, 2018 |work=SB Nation |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref> and Jeff Seidel (for ''Forbes'').<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffseidel/2018/10/26/maryland-football-needs-to-makes-changes/ |title='Toxic' Culture Or Not, Maryland Football Needs To Make Changes |author=Seidel, Jeff |date=October 26, 2018 |work=Forbes |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref>
===Consequences=== The board of regents of the University System of Maryland, acting on the conclusions of the independent culture investigation, recommended the reinstatement of Coach Durkin on October 30, 2018, over the objections of university president Wallace Loh.<ref name=ESPN-181030>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25128085/maryland-board-recommends-keeping-dj-durkin-damon-evans |title=DJ Durkin returns to Terrapins with board of regents' backing |first1=Heather |last1=Dinich |first2=Adam |last2=Rittenberg |date=October 31, 2018 |work=ESPN |access-date=1 November 2018}}</ref><ref name=Maese-30 /> Although Loh had recommended Durkin to be dismissed, the Board urged Loh to retain Durkin and Evans.<ref name=Maese-30>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/maryland-regents-stick-with-football-coach-dj-durkin-over-presidents-recommendation/2018/10/30/c9cc576c-dc8e-11e8-b3f0-62607289efee_story.html |title=Maryland regents stick with football coach DJ Durkin over president's recommendation |author=Maese, Rick |date=October 30, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2 November 2018 |quote=In the end, the regents presented Loh with an ultimatum of sorts: If he wanted to finish the school year and reach the end of his contract, he had to keep Durkin.<br/>{{pad|1.0em}}"It was made clear that if he wanted to remain in his position, he had no option," said a person close to the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. "He ultimately felt it would’ve been tremendously disruptive to the entire campus if he was to be terminated simply because he wouldn’t put the coach back on the field."<br/>{{pad|1.0em}}So Loh, 73, capitulated but then announced his intention to retire at the end of June.}}</ref><ref name=WaPo-2018-10-30 /> Loh fired Durkin one day later, on October 31.<ref name=ESPN-2018-10-31>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25137549/maryland-terrapins-coach-dj-durkin-fired-wake-probe |date=October 31, 2018 |title=Maryland fires coach Durkin after reinstatement|access-date=October 31, 2018}}</ref> The Board also recommended reinstating the two trainers who had been suspended in August.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/11/01/maryland-board-also-recommended-retaining-trainers-who-failed-treat-jordan-mcnair/ |title=Maryland board also recommended retaining trainers who failed to treat Jordan McNair |first=Rick |last=Maese |date=November 1, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> However, after Durkin's firing, those two trainers, Wes Robinson and Steve Nordwall, also were subsequently terminated on November 6.<ref name=WaPo-2018-11-07>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2018/11/07/maryland-fires-athletic-trainers-who-had-been-leave-wake-jordan-mcnair-death/ | title=Maryland fires athletic trainers who had been on leave in wake of Jordan McNair death | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=7 November 2018 | access-date=8 November 2018 | author=Maese, Rick}}</ref>
President Loh announced his resignation, effective June 2019, on October 30, the same day he accepted the recommendations of the board.<ref name=NYT-2018-10-30>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/30/sports/ncaafootball/maryland-football-durkin-mcnair.html |title=After Maryland Player's Death, Coach and Athletic Director Keep Their Jobs |first=Marc |last=Tracy |date=October 30, 2018 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref><ref name=WaPo-2018-10-30>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2018/10/30/u-md-president-retire-wake-football-death/ |title=U-Md. president to retire in wake of football death |first1=Susan |last1=Svrluga |first2=Nick |last2=Anderson |first3=Ovetta |last3=Wiggins |date=October 30, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> In response to Loh's resignation, many state lawmakers gave open support to his decisions against the board and expressed a desire to see him continue as president.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Svrluga |first=Susan |last2=Anderson |first2=Nick |last3=Wiggins |first3=Ovetta |date=2018-10-30 |title=U-Md. president to retire in wake of football death |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2018/10/30/u-md-president-retire-wake-football-death/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> The chair of the board of regents, James T. Brady, announced his immediate resignation on November 1, following the outcry that ensued after Durkin was reinstated.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25148829/james-t-brady-chair-maryland-board-regents-resigns |title=Chair of Maryland board of regents, James T. Brady, resigns |date=November 2, 2018 |work=ESPN |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> In a statement released on November 7, the new chair of the board, Linda R. Gooden, apologized "to the McNair family, the University of Maryland, College Park community, and to the citizens of our state" because the Board had "lost sight of its responsibility to the university system" and that "everyone on the board now understands that the board's personnel recommendations were wrong."<ref name=WaPo-2018-11-07/><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.usmd.edu/newsroom/news/1865 |title=Linda Gooden Selected Chair of USM Board of Regents |date=November 7, 2018 |publisher=University System of Maryland |access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref>
In January 2021, University of Maryland has agreed on a $3.5 million settlement with his parents, Marty McNair and Tonya Wilson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.testudotimes.com/maryland-terps-football/2021/1/15/22233837/jordan-mcnair-death-family-parents-settlement-maryland-football-board-of-public-works|title = Maryland agrees to $3.5 million settlement with family of Jordan McNair|date = 15 January 2021}}</ref>
==Legacy== McNair's family started the Jordan McNair Foundation in July 2018.<ref name=WaPo-2018-07-16 /> On May 31, 2019, the Jordan McNair Foundation held the first annual Jordan McNair Golf Classic tournament at Turf Valley Resort in Howard County, Maryland. Events included an auction to raise funds for the Foundation, whose mission is to raise awareness of heat-related illnesses.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2019/05/31/jordan-mcnair-golf-classic-one-year-anniversary/ |title=Family, Friends Remember Life And Legacy Of Jordan McNair With First Annual Jordan McNair Golf Classic |author=Warren, Pat |date=May 31, 2019 |work=WJZ-13 CBS Baltimore |access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref>
In August 2018, before the start of the 2018 season, the University of Maryland football team announced they have temporarily retired McNair's jersey number 79 until 2020. In addition, the Terrapins will wear No. 79 as a helmet patch, and will seal McNair's locker with glass through 2020.<ref name=DBK-2018-08-20>{{cite news |url=http://www.dbknews.com/2018/08/20/maryland-football-jordan-mcnair-memorial-number/ |title='We plan to never forget:' Maryland football will pay tribute to Jordan McNair this season |date=August 20, 2018 |newspaper=The Diamondback |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref> McDonogh School retired McNair's jersey number 70 in September.<ref name=WaPo-2018-09-14>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/terrapins-insider/wp/2018/09/14/mcdonogh-school-honors-jordan-mcnair-retires-his-jersey-jordan-was-everybodys-son/ |title=McDonogh School honors Jordan McNair with jersey retirement: 'Jordan was everybody's son' |first1=Emily |last1=Giambalvo |first2=Roman |last2=Stubbs |date=September 14, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2 November 2018}}</ref>
On June 13, 2019, the one-year anniversary of McNair's death, the National Center for Children and Families arranged Jordan McNair Field Day at J.C. Nalle Elementary School in Washington, D.C. Dozens of Maryland football players attended the athletic event while wearing white t-shirts bearing McNair's jersey number 79.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://wtop.com/maryland/2019/06/a-day-of-play-in-memory-of-maryland-football-player-jordan-mcnair/slide/1/ |title=Teammates mark 1 year since Jordan McNair's death with joy, not sadness |author=Basch, Michelle |date=June 14, 2019 |work=WTOP |access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref> Later that day, the remainder of the team joined the Jordan McNair Foundation at a health and wellness clinic at McDonogh School.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/06/14/maryland-football-players-coaches-come-together-honor-life-jordan-mcnair/ |title=Maryland football players and coaches come together to honor life of Jordan McNair |author=Giambalvo, Emily |date=June 13, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref>
==See also== * Korey Stringer * List of American football players who died during their careers
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite news |url=http://www.dbknews.com/2018/09/30/jordan-mcnair-maryland-football-heatstroke-death-investigation-timeline-walters/ |title=Analyzing the timeline of Jordan McNair's final workout |author=Crabtree-Hannigan, James |date=September 30, 2018 |newspaper=The Diamondback |access-date=5 November 2018}} * {{cite web |url=http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/jordan-mcnair/fNwclSRTEeS00gAmVebEWg/default.htm |title=Jordan McNair |website=MaxPreps}} * {{cite web |url=https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2017/jordan-mcnair-3406 |title=Jordan McNair |website=Rivals}}
===Investigative reports into McNair's death=== * {{cite report |url=https://www.usmd.edu/newsroom/Walters-Report-to-USM-Board-of-Regents.pdf |title=An Independent Evaluation of Procedures and Protocols Related to the June 2018 death of a University of Maryland Football Student-athlete |date=September 21, 2018 |author=Walters Inc. |publisher=University System of Maryland |access-date=1 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923015828/https://www.usmd.edu/newsroom/Walters-Report-to-USM-Board-of-Regents.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2018 |url-status=live}} * {{cite report |url=https://www.usmd.edu/newsroom/Report-to-USM-Independent-Investigation-UMD-Footbal-10-23-2018.pdf |title=Report to the University System of Maryland of an Independent Investigation of the University of Maryland Football Program |date=October 23, 2018 |author=Independent Commission |publisher=University System of Maryland |access-date=1 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102153627/https://www.usmd.edu/newsroom/Report-to-USM-Independent-Investigation-UMD-Footbal-10-23-2018.pdf |archive-date=2 November 2018 |url-status=live}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNair, Jordan}} Category:1999 births Category:2018 deaths Category:Players of American football from Baltimore Category:American football offensive linemen Category:Maryland Terrapins football players Category:College football controversies Category:Deaths from hyperthermia Category:Sports deaths in Maryland