<\/p>\n
Former Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson, left, unveils a photograph of co-founders Robert and Janice McNair during a ceremony to introduce Robert McNair to the ring of honor during an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Houston.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n
Houston Texans co-founder Janice McNair sits with kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn (7) and punter Bryan Anger (9) on the heated bench on the Texans sidelines before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Baltimore.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n
Janice McNair, Houston Texans co-founder and senior chair, is seen after being inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor during the halftime of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Stonerside farm – Janice and Bob McNair. HOUCHRON CAPTION (11\/26\/2000): Bob and Janice McNair have enjoyed keeping an eye on Chilukki, who won the stable’s first Eclipse Award and owns track records for two different distances at Churchill Downs.<\/p>\n
Michael J. Marten\/Special to the Chronicle<\/p>\n
Bob and Janice McNair, and Rhonda and Gary Kubiak (l-r) pose for photos after the Houston Texans’ press conference to introduce Kubiak as the new head coach, at the Hobby Center, Thursday, January 26, 2006. (Karen Warren\/Houston Chronicle)<\/p>\n
KAREN WARREN\/HOUSTON CHRONICLE<\/p>\n
Houston Texans Co-Founder Janice McNair, center, is seen in a wheelchair pushed by her son and Texans CEO Cal McNair before an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Houston.<\/p>\n
Jason Fochtman\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n
Janice McNair and Cal McNair pose with the framed ring of honor jacket for Robert C. McNair, who was inducted during the halftime of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Houston.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n
Chairman and CEO of the Houston Texans Robert McNair, center right, rings the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange Friday, April 19, 2002. Looking on are NFL Draft Picks Bryant McKinnie, far left and David Carr, second left, NYSE Chairman Richard Grasso, draft pick Quentin Jammer, behind Grasso, Janice McNair, Houston Texans vice chairman Chuck Watson, and NFL Draft Picks Julius Peppers, second right, and Mike WIlliams, right. The 2002 NFL Draft will take place Saturday, April 20, at Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo\/Chad Rachman). HOUCHRON CAPTION (04\/20\/2002): Texans owner Bob McNair, fifth from right, rings the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. McNair has been promoting both Houston and the Texans in the days leading up to the NFL draft. At his right is his wife, Janice, and David Carr is second from left. HOUSTON CHRONICLE SPECIAL SECTION: NFL DRAFT. 2002.<\/p>\n
CHAD RACHMAN\/AP<\/p>\n
Wortham Theatre Center Grand Foyer Houston Grand Opera Ball L-R:honoree Bob McNair; honoree Janice McNair; chair I.W. Marks;chair Shelly Ann Marks. Craig H. Hartley\/Special to the Chronicle<\/p>\n
CRAIG H. HARTLEY\/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE<\/p>\n
Team owner Bob McNair and his wife Janice applaud after watching composer Sam Spence lead the Houston Texans Bull Pen Pep Band perform his new fight song at Reliant Stadium Saturday June 16,2007. .(Dave Rossman\/For the Chronicle)<\/p>\n
Dave Rossman\/For the Chronicle<\/p>\n
Bob McNair, Eleanor Connan, Lynn Wyatt and Janice McNair, seated 11\/17\/1998 HOUCHRON CAPTION (12\/06\/1998): Bob McNair, Eleanor Connan, Janice McNair and Lynn Wyatt recently gathered at the McNairs’ River Oaks home to make final arrangements for Monday’s opening of the new Chanel boutique in the Galleria. The event benefits Trees of Hope.<\/p>\n
E. Joseph Deering\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Robert NcNair, former first lady Barbara Bush, and Janice McNair at the “Brookwood Proud, Texas Proud” biennial benefit lunch.<\/p>\n
Amber Elliott\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Janice McNair<\/a>, the co-founder of the Houston Texans<\/a> along with her late husband Bob McNair, died Tuesday. She was 89.\u00a0<\/p>\n McNair died of natural causes, her son Cal McNair, the Texans’ chair and CEO, told the Houston Chronicle. The team first announced her death in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was really so optimistic and thought the best was going to happen and saw the best in people,\u201d Cal McNair said in a phone interview. \u201cShe was a true Southern lady and she was great role model for all of us, especially growing up.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n JANICE McNAIR: What to know about Texans’ late co-founder<\/a><\/p>\n Janice McNair, who was the team\u2019s principal owner<\/a> after her husband\u2019s death in 2018<\/a> until Cal was moved into that role in 2024, recently made a public appearance in June to watch one of the Texans’\u00a0offseason practices.<\/p>\n Janice\u00a0married her husband Bob in April 1957. They met in Columbia, S.C, moved to Houston in 1960 and raised four children, sons Cary and Cal and daughters\u00a0Melissa and Ruth. The McNairs had 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.\u00a0<\/p>\n She co-founded the Texans franchise in 1999 with her husband, bringing a NFL team back to Houston after Bud Adams moved the Oilers to Tennessee in 1997.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n REACTION: What former players and others are saying<\/a><\/p>\n The\u00a0McNairs spent $700 million for the franchise, whose first season began in 2002. This fall will mark the team\u2019s 25th season. Janice\u00a0McNair often operated behind the scenes and was rarely interviewed on the record.<\/p>\n But she served as the right hand and sounding board for her husband when he made decisions for the Texans \u2014 an example\u00a0Cal McNair has said he has tried to model with his wife, Hannah McNair.<\/p>\n She also played a huge part in the Houston Texans Foundation, which she helped start. It has raised $51 million for the community since its founding.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cShe loved the Texans,\u201d Cal McNair said of his mother. \u201cWe wanted her to raise that (Lombardi) trophy. We came up a little bit short, but we still plan on doing that for her.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n WHAT NOW?: How Janice McNair’s death affects ownership<\/a><\/p>\n Hannah\u00a0McNair, who is now the Houston Texans Foundation\u2019s chief community officer, said Janice McNair was her mentor.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMy queen,\u201d she said through tears. \u201cShe made every person she talked to feel special. She always had so much joy and care. Love and hope. Never saw the negative in any situation. Always saw the positive. Any time the team was losing or struggling she always said we\u2019re going to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n The two added that she\u2019d often tell coach DeMeco Ryans anytime he needed her, she was ready to play.\u00a0<\/p>\n Houston Texans co-founder and chair Janice McNair wears an AFC South championship hat after the Texans beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 to take the division at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Tampa.<\/p>\n Brett Coomer\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n Ryans, who played for the Texans from 2006-11 before returning as head coach three years ago, added a statement through\u00a0the team\u2019s press release.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. McNair was an incredible woman who will be deeply missed,\u201d Ryans said. \u201cAs a player, she and Mr.\u00a0McNair built an organization that felt like a family and it was a true honor to play for them.<\/p>\n \u201cI will always remember the day I came home to Houston in 2023. Mrs.\u00a0McNair welcomed me back into the Texans family with open arms and her signature warm smile. We shared the same vision of bringing the organization to new heights and I will continue to work every day to accomplish that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n Texans legend J.J. Watt, who played for the franchise from 2011-20, offered condolences on the social media app X.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAll of us who were graced with your presence and kindness are better for it,\u201d Watt said<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n McNair\u2019s death comes almost five years after she suffered a stroke, relegating her to a wheelchair and around-the-clock nurses. Her stroke\u00a0was at the center of a court case<\/a> in which her eldest son, Cary, filed a guardianship case over her in Harris County Probate Court. That case was later dropped<\/a> in February 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n But at least two cases among the four siblings remain ongoing.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n