Take heart Tennessee Titans fans. Quarterback Steve McNair announced Friday that he would return to the club for the 2005 season and would not retire.

McNair said he was considering retiring after he missed most of the 2004 season due to an injured sternum. He had bone graft surgery in December. Doctors took a portion of bone from his right hip and attached it to his sternum to strengthen it. He was finally cleared to begin throwing again 10 days ago.

McNair released a statement saying, 'I am excited about coming back to play this season. I feel good physically. My sternum is healing. I am in good shape, haven't had any problems throwing and expect to participate in some of the mini-camps. I am looking forward to the season, being a leader for the younger guys and getting back to winning football games.'

When healthy, McNair has been one of the NFL's better quarterbacks. As recently as 2003, he was named league co-MVP along with Peyton Manning of Indianapolis. He led the Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance five years ago but the Titans fell one yards short of a tying touchdown on the game's final play and lost to the St. Louis Rams.

With McNair sidelined for half the season and hampered by injuries even when he was in the lineup, the Titans fell to 5-11 last year. They hope with McNair back, they can regain a spot in the AFC playoffs.