Houston Texans co-founder and Senior Chair Janice McNair dies at 89, family says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Janice McNair, the co-founder of the Houston Texans and senior chair of the organization, has passed away, the team announced on Tuesday.

In a social media post, the Texans said McNair passed away at the age of 89, surrounded by her family.

"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," Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair, Janice's son, said in a press release.

McNair, who was a breast cancer survivor, grew up in South Carolina and was active in sports and student government before graduating from Columbia College.

The Texans co-founder and her husband, the late Bob McNair, moved to Houston in 1960 and started several of their philanthropic efforts within the community.

Janice served as the director of the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, the Houston Texans Foundation, and the Robert and Janice McNair Educational Foundation. Her commitment to helping others extended past sports, including educational and medical research.

She co-founded the Texans with her husband in 1999 before their initial expansion in 2002.

In 2025, she was the fourth member inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor, where the organization and fans thanked her for her contributions to bringing football back to the Bayou City.

Several members of the Texans organization shared statements regarding her passing. Head coach DeMeco Ryans lauded Mrs. McNair and reminisced about meeting her during his playing days, along with her welcoming him back to the team in 2023.

"Mrs. McNair was an incredible woman who will be deeply missed. As a player, she and Mr. McNair built an organization that felt like a 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 Texans family with open arms and her signature warm smile," Ryans said.

She is survived by her four children, 16 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.