Janice McNair, Co-Founder of the Houston Texans, Passes Away

Janice McNair, who co-founded the NFL’s Houston Texans, died at the age of 89. The team shared the news in a statement on Tuesday.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that Janice S. McNair, co-founder and senior chairman of the Houston Texans, passed away peacefully this afternoon in Houston, surrounded by her family,” the statement said.

She was instrumental in the return of the NFL to Houston and took over as principal owner of the Texans after her husband’s passing in 2018.

Janice later passed ownership to her son, Cal McNair. He reflected on her life, stating, “My mother was an extraordinary person. She exuded kindness, radiated joy, had boundless hope and love, and lived a remarkable life centered around faith, family, philanthropy, and soccer. Words cannot express the deep gratitude my sisters Ruth and Melissa and I have for having her as a mother. Outside of our family, nothing meant more to her than her beloved Texans.”

He added, “I remain honored to lead this franchise and build on the foundation my parents laid when they brought football back to Houston.”

Since its establishment in 2002, the Texans have recorded a 174-214-1 record, including eight AFC South titles and seven playoff victories.

Though the Texans faced challenges early in the 2020s, they’ve since become strong playoff contenders, largely thanks to head coach DeMeco Ryans, who had played for the team from 2005 to 2011 when Bob McNair was the owner.

A former player spoke about Janice, stating, “Mrs. McNair was a wonderful woman and will be greatly missed. As players, she and Mr. McNair built an organization that was like a family. It was a true honor to play for them.” He reminisced about returning to Houston in 2023 when she welcomed him warmly into the Texans family, sharing a mutual vision to elevate the organization. He expressed his commitment to that goal.