The news of quarterback Steve McNair's sudden passing has had a profound effect on Toronto Argonauts' head coach Bart Andrus.

Andrus spent three seasons with the Tennessee Titans and was the quarterbacks' coach when the team made it to the Super Bowl during the 1999 season with McNair at quarterback.

"Steve is a good friend of Bart's," said an Argo spokesperson, who informed the head coach of his former player's passing on Saturday because of a gunshot wound.

"He needs to take it in, make some calls and process the news. He said he would likely be able to talk about it tomorrow during his availability but not tonight."

Meanwhile, Sportsnet.ca has learned that McNair's son, Steve Jr., is being recruited by several U.S. schools, including the University of Mississippi, and that former Saskatchewan Roughriders' head coach Kent Austin, who is the offensive co-ordinator for Ole Miss, is heavily involved in the recruiting process.

Steve Jr. is an outstanding wide receiver in his senior year at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.