Houston Texans
Trademark
UnclaimedThe Houston Texans are the National Football League franchise based in Houston, Texas, playing in the AFC South and operating as a privately held sports-entertainment brand.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
The Houston Texans are a professional American football franchise in the National Football League (NFL), based in Houston, Texas, and competing in the league's American Football Conference South division. The club was established in 2002 as the NFL's 32nd franchise, restoring top-tier professional football to Houston after the departure of the Houston Oilers, who relocated to Tennessee in the late 1990s. The team was founded by Houston energy executive Bob McNair, whose bid won the expansion franchise and who served as the club's principal owner until his death in 2018; ownership has since passed to his widow, Janice McNair, and the McNair family through the holding entity Houston NFL Holdings, L.P. As a brand, the Texans are a sports-entertainment property whose core offerings are live NFL games at NRG Stadium, a domed/retractable-roof venue that also hosts major events, along with broadcast and streaming rights, licensed merchandise (jerseys, apparel, headwear, collectibles), corporate sponsorships and naming rights, and community and youth-football programs. The team's identity is built around the "Texans" name, a bull-themed logo and a deep steel blue, battle red and liberty white color scheme, positioning the club as a symbol of Texas identity and Houston civic pride. The franchise plays in one of the largest media and population markets in the United States and benefits from the NFL's national revenue-sharing and broadcast contracts. The Texans' on-field history includes AFC South division titles and repeated playoff appearances, most notably a run of division success in the 2010s under head coach Bill O'Brien and quarterback Deshaun Watson, and a resurgence in the 2020s behind quarterback C.J. Stroud, the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft who was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. The club's business side has been shaped by the McNair family's stewardship, the opening of NRG Stadium (originally Reliant Stadium) in 2002, and the team's role in bringing Super Bowl XXXVIII and other major events to Houston. Commercially, the Texans operate as a privately held, family-controlled franchise rather than a publicly traded company; NFL rules and the club's ownership structure keep it outside public equity markets. The brand's value derives from league media contracts, ticketing and premium seating, merchandise licensing, sponsorships and the broader NFL brand. The franchise remains active and is a fixture of Houston's sports and entertainment landscape alongside the Astros, Rockets and Dynamo.
History
The Houston Texans trace their origins to the NFL's expansion process in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Houston had lost its NFL team when the Houston Oilers relocated to Tennessee after the 1996 season, eventually becoming the Tennessee Titans. Houston businessman Bob McNair, founder of Cogen Technologies, led a group that pursued a new franchise. In 1999 the NFL awarded Houston the league's 32nd franchise for a reported expansion fee of $700 million, and the team was formally named the Houston Texans in 2000, with the name, bull-themed logo and deep steel blue/battle red color scheme unveiled to the public. The franchise began play in 2002 under head coach Dom Capers, coinciding with the opening of Reliant Stadium (later renamed NRG Stadium), a retractable-roof venue adjacent to the Astrodome. Early seasons were building years; the Texans posted their first winning season and first playoff appearance in 2011 under head coach Gary Kubiak, winning the AFC South and defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in the wild-card round before falling to the Baltimore Ravens. The club repeated as AFC South champions in 2012. In 2014, Bill O'Brien became head coach and the team returned to contention, winning AFC South titles in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. Quarterback Deshaun Watson, drafted in 2017, became the face of the franchise during this period, and the Texans won playoff games in the 2016 and 2019 seasons. The 2020s brought significant transition: O'Brien was dismissed in 2020, Watson was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2022 amid legal proceedings, and the franchise underwent front-office and coaching changes. In 2023 the Texans drafted quarterback C.J. Stroud second overall and hired DeMeco Ryans as head coach; Stroud was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and the team returned to the playoffs, marking a new competitive era. Ownership passed to Janice McNair and the McNair family following Bob McNair's death in 2018, with Cal McNair serving as chairman and CEO. The Texans remain a privately held franchise under NFL ownership rules, with revenue driven by league broadcast contracts, ticketing, premium seating, merchandise and sponsorships. The club has also been active in Houston civic life, hosting the Super Bowl and other major events at NRG Stadium and running community and youth-football initiatives.
- 2023
Texans draft C.J. Stroud second overall and hire DeMeco Ryans as head coach; Stroud named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
- 2022
Deshaun Watson traded to the Cleveland Browns.
- 2018
Founder Bob McNair dies; ownership passes to Janice McNair and family.
- 2017
Quarterback Deshaun Watson drafted by the Texans.
- 2014
Bill O'Brien hired as head coach.
- 2012
Texans repeat as AFC South champions.
- 2011
First winning season and first playoff appearance; AFC South title and wild-card win over Cincinnati.
- 2002
Texans begin play under head coach Dom Capers as Reliant Stadium opens.
- 2000
Team is formally named the Houston Texans, with bull logo and color scheme unveiled.
- 1999
NFL awards Houston the league's 32nd franchise to Bob McNair's ownership group.
Products and positioning
A family-owned NFL franchise positioned as a symbol of Texas identity and Houston civic pride, monetized through league media rights, ticketing, merchandise licensing and sponsorships.
Houston Texans home games at NRG Stadium
Licensed Texans merchandise
NFL broadcast and streaming content featuring the Texans
Corporate partnerships and stadium naming rights
Controversies
2021
Houston Texans CEO apologizes for “China Virus” remark
Houston Texans CEO and chairman Cal McNair apologized on Tuesday for using the term “China virus” at a team charity golf tournament. In a statement, he called the wording inappropriate and said he had apologized to people who approached him at the time and was apologizing again.
Recent events
Reported
Houston Texans name Bludorn culinary partner for premium gameday experiences[2]
The Houston Texans announced Bludorn, the Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant from Bludorn Hospitality Group, as the culinary partner for their ultra-premium gameday experiences, including the BMW Lone Star Ballroom and BMW M Club Blue, for the 2026 season.
Reported
Houston Texans CEO apologizes for “China Virus” remark[1]
Houston Texans CEO and chairman Cal McNair apologized on Tuesday for using the term “China virus” at a team charity golf tournament. In a statement, he called the wording inappropriate and said he had apologized to people who approached him at the time and was apologizing again.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Sources2 sources
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