Janice McNair, co-founder and senior executive of the Houston Texans, has died at the age of 89. The Texans announced McNair’s death in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
McNair and her husband, Bob, founded the Texans in 2002 after the city saw the Houston Oilers move to Tennessee in 1997.
Son Cal, who has managed the day-to-day operations of the team since his father’s death in 2018, will continue to lead the franchise. Janice transferred primary ownership to Cal in the spring of 2024.
“Mom was one of a kind,” Cal McNair said in the statement. “She radiated kindness, radiated joy, had endless hope and love and lived an incredible life of faith, family, kindness and soccer.”
“It is impossible to express the deep gratitude that my sisters, Ruth and Melissa, and I feel for having her as our mom. Outside of our family, nothing meant more to her than her beloved Texans. I am still honored to lead this franchise and build on the foundation my parents laid when they brought football back to Houston. Mom leaves an indelible mark on our community and our community, and her inherent team spirit will always be embedded in our family and embedded in our team spirit. Although I am heartbroken, I take comfort in knowing that she is now reunited with my dad, her favorite teammate.”
Janice is survived by four children, 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was the fourth inductee into the Texans Ring of Honor, with her name in the rafters alongside husband Bob and legendary Texans players Andre Johnson and JJ Watt.
A native of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Janice adopted Houston as her home when she and Bob moved there in 1960.
McNair was known for her philanthropic work. Among them was the Houston Texans Foundation conceived in 2002 – the first year for the franchise. More than $51 million has been raised by the foundation “to inspire” hope in Houston.
The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation established the McNair Scholars program “to recruit the best and brightest students and faculty to the University of South Carolina, Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Texas Children’s Hospital.”
Over the years, Janice left an indelible mark on those outside and inside the constituency.
DeMeco Ryans was Houston’s standout quarterback from 2006-2011 and returned to become the club’s head coach in 2023, leading the team to three straight playoff seasons.
“Mrs. McNair was an incredible woman who will be greatly missed,” Ryans said in a statement. “As a player, she and Mr. McNair built an organization that felt like family and it was a true honor to play for them. I will always remember the day I came home to Houston in 2023. Mrs. McNair welcomed me back into the Texas family with open arms and her warm smile. We shared the same vision of taking the organization to new heights every day to reach new heights and I will pray for that. are with Cal, Hannah and their family at this time.”