FOR USE AS DESIRED
AFC-PM-4        1/3/03

TITANS QB STEVE MC NAIR, STEELERS LB JASON GILDON

& K JEFF REED NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF MONTH FOR DECEMBER

Quarterback STEVE MC NAIR of the Tennessee Titans, linebacker JASON GILDON of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Steelers kicker JEFF REED are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for December, the NFL announced today.

McNair guided the Titans to the NFL’s only undefeated December (5-0), an AFC South division title and the AFC’s No. 2 playoff seed by completing 81 of 133 passes (60.9 percent) for 970 yards with five touchdowns and one interception for a 92.6 December passer rating.  McNair also stymied opponents with his running, rushing for 197 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries (7.6-yard average) despite missing practice time due to injuries.

In a December 22 victory over Jacksonville (28-10), McNair became only the fifth quarterback in NFL history to pass for 18,000 yards as well as rush for 3,000 in a career, joining RANDALL CUNNINGHAM, JOHN ELWAY, FRAN TARKENTON and STEVE YOUNG.

The 6-2, 229-pound eight-year veteran from Alcorn State produced his most prolific passing season (3,387 yards) and rushed for more than 400 yards for the fourth time in the past five years (440).  McNair also posted career highs in touchdown passes (22) and completions (301) in 16 starts for the Titans.

“I’m excited because Steve feels better than he has in the past few weeks and we have a chance to have a healthy Steve McNair as we start the playoffs,” said Titans head coach JEFF FISHER, who guided his club to 10 wins in its past 11 games.

This is McNair’s first AFC Offensive Player of the Month Award.

In Pittsburgh’s five December games, Gildon stepped forward to notch 21 tackles (18 solo) with 5.5 sacks and three forced fumbles to help the Steelers win four games and earn the inaugural AFC North Division championship.  This season marks Pittsburgh’s seventh division title since BILL COWHER became head coach in 1992.

Gildon posted a pair of multi-sack games in December and tied fellow linebacker JOEY PORTER for the team lead in sacks for the season with 9.0.  No other linebacker in the AFC finished 2002 with more than 8.0 sacks.  As a unit, the Pittsburgh defense led the AFC with 50.0 sacks.  Since 1982, the Steelers have now reached 50.0 sacks five times.

“Our defense is making plays,” says Pittsburgh coach Cowher.  “Jason Gildon has played solid and is disrupting offenses.

“We are comfortable with the things we are doing,” Cowher added.  “We are playing fast.  There is not a lot of thinking going on and we are just playing.  When we do that, we’re a pretty sound group.”

In his ninth year form Oklahoma State, this is Gildon’s first AFC Defensive Player of the Month Award.

Gildon’s teammate Reed has become a special teams weapon for the Steelers, evidenced by his December production of 14-for-15 in field goal tries, including four-for-five kicking between 40-50 yards.  Reed, an undrafted rookie from North Carolina, also successfully kicked his lone 50-yard attempt of the month.

“I have a lot of faith in him,” Cowher says of Reed.  “He continues to be a clutch kicker for us.”

This is Reed’s first AFC Special Teams Player of the Month Award.

2002 AFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH