Does ownership change for the Texans following the passing of co-founder Janice McNair?
The First Lady of the Houston Texans is gone.
Janice McNair, the matriarch of the franchise and co-founder alongside Bob McNair, died Tuesday at 89 years old. She helped bring football back to Houston after the Oilers, under the control of Bud Adams, moved the franchise out of the area following the 1996 season.
“Janice McNair was a woman of extraordinary generosity, grace and faith, whose impact on the Houston community and the NFL will be felt for generations,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Alongside Bob, she helped bring the NFL back to her beloved Houston and played an essential role in building the Texans into an organization that reflects the values held dear — service, integrity, and commitment to community.”
With Janice’s passing, the question turns to who will take over as the Texans’ majority owner? When Bob McNair passed away in 2018, the controlling rights went over to Janice.
Following her stroke, Janice McNair turned most duties over to Cal McNair while still maintaining the principal share of the franchise. However, Cal was approved by the NFL to take over as the team’s permanent owner in 2024 during the annual owners’ meeting.
The vote among league owners was unanimous, thus giving Cal McNair principal control of everything in the franchise. He will continue to serve as the head of all Texans’ operations moving into the 2026 NFL season.
“Mom leaves an indelible mark on our family, our team, and our community…” pic.twitter.com/dH3KOrMrKT
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) July 14, 2026
“Mom was exceptional. She exuded kindness, radiated joy, had an endless amount of hope and love, and lived an incredible life centered around faith, family, philanthropy and football,” Cal McNair said in a statement. “It’s impossible to describe the profound gratitude that my sisters, Ruth and Melissa, and I feel for having her as our mom. Outside of our family, nothing mattered more to her than her beloved Texans. I remain honored to lead this franchise and build on the foundation my parents set when they brought football back to Houston. Mom leaves an indelible mark on our family, our team and our community, and her giving spirit will always be embedded in the fabric of our organization. While I’m heartbroken, I take great comfort in knowing she is now reunited with my dad, her favorite teammate.”
The Texans open the regular season at Reliant Stadium on Sept. 13 against the Buffalo Bills.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Does ownership change for the Texans following the passing of co-founder Janice McNair?
