Houston Texans Co-Founder and Senior Chair Janice McNair passed away on Tuesday afternoon at the age of 89 years old. According to her son, Texans Chairman and CEO Cal McNair, his mother passed away due to natural causes.
“Mom was exceptional,” said Cal McNair, in a press release from the team. “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.
“It’s impossible to describe the profound gratitude that my sisters, Ruth and Melissa, and I feel for having her as our mom. Outside of our family, nothing mattered more to her than her beloved Texans. I remain honored to lead this franchise and build on the foundation my parents set when they brought football back to Houston. Mom leaves an indelible mark on our family, our team and our community, and her giving spirit will always be embedded in the fabric of our organization. While I’m heartbroken, I take great comfort in knowing she is now reunited with my dad, her favorite teammate.”
Janice and her husband, the late Bob McNair, who passed away in 2018, moved to Houston in 1960, and for decades, made it a priority to make Houston a better place through their philanthropic efforts. The focus of those efforts typically centered around education and medical research, through multiple foundations, all of which were directed by Janice McNair. Through the years, the McNairs have contributed more than half a billion dollars to various charities.
“Janice was an extraordinary mentor, inspirational role model and visionary leader,” said Texans Chief Community Officer and Janice McNair’s daughter-in-law, Hannah McNair, in a press release from the team. “Giving back has always been the heartbeat of our organization and that started with Janice. I’m honored to carry her legacy and love of sports and community forward. She will be sorely missed and remain a shining example for us all.”
In 2025, Janice McNair was the fourth person inducted into the Houston Texans Ring of Honor, joining Andre Johnson, J.J. Watt, and her late husband, Bob McNair. At halftime of the Week 9 game at NRG Stadium, Texans fans were able to show their appreciation for Mrs. McNair’s role in bringing professional football back to Houston. Throughout their tenure, Janice and the McNairs family have always been viewed as owners who have given their team every resource necessary to succeed.
“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,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans in a press release. “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. We shared the same vision of bringing the organization to new heights and I will continue to work every day to accomplish that goal. My thoughts and prayers are with Cal, Hannah and their family during this time.”
Janice McNair is survived by four children, 16 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.
