Houston Texans co-founder Janice McNair dies at 89
Janice McNair, co-founder and Senior Chair of the Houston Texans, died on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at age 89. The team said she passed away peacefully in Houston with her family by her side. Her death marks the loss of the matriarch who helped return NFL football to Houston and shaped the franchise’s philanthropic footprint.
The Texans announced Janice S. McNair’s passing Tuesday afternoon in a statement on social media. She spent decades building community programs and one of the NFL’s youngest franchises alongside her late husband, Bob McNair.
Key Takeaways
- Janice McNair died at 89 on July 14, 2026, with family at her side in Houston.
- She co-founded the Texans in 2002 and served as principal owner from 2018 to 2024.
- She and Bob McNair gave more than half a billion dollars to charity through their foundations.
- Ownership transferred to son Cal McNair in 2024; she remained Senior Chair.
- She was inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor in 2025.
Who was Janice McNair?
Janice Suber McNair grew up in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and graduated from Columbia College with a degree in education. She later received an honorary doctorate from the school. She was active in sports, choir, and student government during her youth.
Since moving to Houston in 1960, Janice and Bob raised four children and built a business and sports legacy rooted in community giving. She was a breast cancer survivor. In 2025, she was inducted as the fourth member of the Texans Ring of Honor, joining Bob McNair, Andre Johnson, and J.J. Watt.
What was Janice McNair’s role with the Houston Texans?
Janice McNair co-founded the NFL’s 32nd franchise with Bob McNair in 2002, bringing professional football back to Houston after the Oilers relocated to Tennessee in 1997. Bob McNair died in 2018 at age 81.
Janice became the team’s principal owner and held that role for six seasons before transferring ownership to her son, Cal McNair, in 2024. She retained the title of Senior Chair. Cal McNair now serves as Chair and CEO.
How did Janice McNair use her wealth for philanthropy?
The McNairs were among Houston’s most prominent philanthropists. Through The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, the Houston Texans Foundation, and The Robert and Janice McNair Educational Foundation, Bob and Janice contributed more than half a billion dollars to charity. Education and medical research were cornerstones of their giving.
The Houston Texans Foundation, created when the franchise launched in 2002, has raised more than $51 million for Houston youth programs. Janice also supported McNair Scholars programs at institutions including Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of South Carolina.
For more on how sports fortunes translate into lasting community impact, see our Net Worth & Wealth coverage.
How did leaders react to Janice McNair’s death?
Cal McNair called his mother “exceptional” and said she lived a life centered on faith, family, philanthropy, and football. He added that she is now reunited with Bob, “her favorite teammate.”
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said she built an organization that felt like a family. Chief Community Officer Hannah McNair said giving back “started with Janice.” Executive VP Nick Caserio and President Mike Tomon also praised her kindness and lasting impact.