Quick Facts: Houston Texans
| Current Owner | McNair family (Cal McNair, Chairman & CEO) |
| Ownership Type | Private (family) |
| Founded | 2002, as an NFL expansion team |
| Franchise Fee | $700 million (NFL record at the time) |
| Founder | Bob McNair |
| Cal McNair Chairman Since | 2018 |
| Replaced | The Houston Oilers, which left for Tennessee in 1997 |
Who Owns the Houston Texans?
Cal McNair has served as Chairman and CEO of the Houston Texans since 2018, continuing the McNair family’s ownership after his father, franchise founder Bob McNair, passed away that November.
Bob McNair paid a then-NFL-record $700 million expansion fee to bring the Texans into the league in 2002, filling the gap left when the Houston Oilers relocated to Tennessee in 1997 and eventually became the Titans.
McNair built his fortune through Cogen Technologies, an energy company he founded and later sold for roughly $1.5 billion, providing the capital base for both the Texans purchase and the family’s continued investment in the franchise.
Since taking over, Cal McNair has led the team through a notably turbulent stretch of front-office and coaching changes before more recent stability, while the McNair family has retained full ownership throughout.
Houston Texans Ownership History
| Year | Event | Owner / Key Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Houston Oilers relocate to Tennessee | Bud Adams | Leaves Houston without an NFL team |
| 2002 | Texans launch as expansion team | Bob McNair | $700 million franchise fee, NFL record |
| 2018 | Bob McNair dies | Cal McNair (Chairman & CEO) | Son takes over leadership |
About the McNair Family
Bob McNair built Cogen Technologies into a major independent power producer before selling it to Enron in 1999 for roughly $1.5 billion, timing the sale well before Enron’s collapse and using the proceeds to fund the Texans expansion bid.
Cal McNair has worked to modernize the franchise’s football operations since taking over, navigating significant roster and coaching turnover in the years following his father’s death before more recent competitive improvement.
Key Ownership Highlights
- The Texans filled a real gap in Houston’s football history: founded five years after the Oilers left for Tennessee, giving the city an NFL team again.
- Bob McNair’s expansion fee was an NFL record at the time: $700 million in 2002, reflecting the value of re-entering the Houston market.
- McNair’s fortune came from energy, not typical NFL-owner sources: Cogen Technologies’ sale to Enron in 1999 funded the Texans purchase, well-timed ahead of Enron’s later collapse.
- Ownership transitioned to Cal McNair upon his father’s 2018 death: keeping the franchise within the McNair family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Houston Texans?
The McNair family, with Cal McNair serving as Chairman and CEO since 2018.
Who founded the Texans?
Bob McNair, who paid a then-NFL-record $700 million expansion fee in 2002.
Why was there a gap before Houston got the Texans?
The Houston Oilers relocated to Tennessee in 1997, leaving Houston without an NFL team until the Texans launched in 2002.
What was Bob McNair’s business background?
He founded Cogen Technologies, an energy company he sold to Enron in 1999 for roughly $1.5 billion.
When did Cal McNair take over the team?
In 2018, following his father Bob McNair’s death.