Houston Texans Ownership History: Complete List and Timeline

The Houston Texans brought football back to the Gulf Coast region in 2002 when the team officially took the field in its inaugural season. The team was awarded to entrepreneur Robert “Bob” McNair in 2000, and from there he did everything he could to make the team a winning team. Although playoff success was limited, he oversaw the team’s acquisition of several of the team’s most impressive players.

During his tenure, Andre Johnson, Duane Brown, Mario Williams, JJ Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, Brian Cushing, DeMeco Ryans and DeAndre Hopkins all arrived in Houston trying to put the team on the map. The team enjoyed intermittent success during his tenure, and although McNair was the center of some minor controversies, the team largely enjoyed success during his tenure.

Sadly, McNair passed away in 2018 and the team then returned to his wife, Janice. For the next six years, Janice McNair managed the franchise. During his tenure, the team faced some of its biggest obstacles and controversies. There was the terrible Hopkins trade to the Arizona Cardinals, which essentially ended Bill O’Brien’s tenure as head coach and general manager of the club. And then, of course, there was constant loss and rebuilding. Still, the worst had to be Deshaun Watson’s sexual assault accusations and the scandal that followed.

The team went through a series of problems during those turbulent years, but it was eventually resolved. Ryans, a former linebacker on the team, would be hired as the team’s head coach. Next, the club would sign CJ Stroud and Will Anderson, mainstays of the team for what fans are hoping for in the years to come. The club then achieved its second victory with these two youngsters (among others) leading the way, and the team returned to glory in the 2023 season.

However, Janice’s health issues arose during the 2023 season and infighting began. Some claimed she was no longer cognitively fit to lead the team, with her son Robert McNair Jr. seeking guardianship of his mother. Janice and her other son Cal McNair defended Janice, which ultimately saw the case thrown out.

Soon after, however, Janice named Cal the primary owner of the Texans franchise.