NFL owners to vote on whether Cal McNair becomes Texans principal owner

Houston Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair could become the new principal owner of the team pending a vote by other NFL owners.

The Houston Texans could have a new owner this season, but one the team is also very familiar with.

NFL owners will vote on whether to approve Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair as the franchise’s principal owner at the owners meetings next week, according to Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Alexander. He would replace his mother, Janice, who became the Texans’ principal owner in 2018 following the death of her husband and Cal’s father, Bob.

Cal McNair took over daily football operations after his father’s death and has represented the Texans at the owners meetings instead of Janice. Since Cal took over, Houston’s record is 31-51-1.

Robert Cary McNair Jr., one of Janice’s other sons, along with others involved, filed a motion in which they agreed to jointly drop a lawsuit that sought to have his mother declared incapacitated and have a legal guardian appointed. On Feb. 26, lawyers filed the motion to drop the lawsuit.

The expected vote on Tuesday doesn’t mean the team is available for purchase. The McNairs have no plans to sell the franchise, according to Alexander. 

Houston was awarded an expansion franchise in 1999, and its first season came in 2002. Bob McNair received permission from Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt to use the Texans name; the Chiefs franchise was founded as the Dallas Texans before it moved to Kansas City in 1963.