The Houston Texans are mourning the death of co-founder and senior chair Janice S. McNair, who passed away peacefully on Tuesday afternoon surrounded by her family. She was 89.

Although she was often less visible than her late husband Bob during the franchise’s formative years, Janice McNair played an integral role in bringing NFL football back to Houston after the Oilers’ departure and remained one of the organisation’s guiding influences for more than two decades.

The McNairs were awarded the NFL’s 32nd franchise in 1999, investing $700m to establish the Texans, who began play in 2002. Following Bob McNair’s death in 2018, Janice became principal owner before transferring that role to her son, Cal, in 2024, while remaining as senior chair.

Announcing her passing, the Texans described a woman whose impact reached far beyond the field.

“Mom was exceptional,” Cal McNair said in a heartfelt statement. “She exuded kindness, radiated joy, had an endless amount of hope and love, and lived an incredible life centred 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 [and] I remain honoured 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 organisation. While I’m heartbroken, I take great comfort in knowing she is now reunited with my dad, her favourite team-mate.”

The McNair family’s influence was never confined to football. Through the Houston Texans Foundation and the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, they directed hundreds of millions of dollars towards education, healthcare and charitable causes across Texas. The Houston Texans Foundation alone has raised more than $51m since the franchise’s inaugural season, and that commitment to serving the wider Houston community was reflected in the tribute offered by Hannah McNair, the Texans’ chief community officer and vice-president of the Houston Texans Foundation.

“Janice was more than a mentor, she was a dear friend, a role model and a true queen mother,” the statement read. “Her vision, generosity and passion for serving others shaped our organisation and touched so many lives, including mine. Giving back was at the heart of everything she did, and I’m honoured to carry her legacy and love for sports and community forward. She will be deeply missed, and her example will continue to inspire us all.”

Janice McNair remained closely connected to the franchise even after suffering a stroke in 2021, continuing to attend team events and maintaining an active presence within the organisation whenever possible. Her contribution was formally recognised in 2025 when she became just the fourth member inducted into the Texans Ring of Honour, joining Bob McNair, Andre Johnson and J.J. Watt.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, along with multiple teams around the league, also recognised the significance of her contribution to both the league and the city of Houston.

“Janice McNair was a woman of extraordinary generosity, grace and faith, whose impact on the Houston community and the NFL will be felt for generations,” Goodell wrote. “Alongside Bob, she helped bring the NFL back to her beloved Houston and played an essential role in building the Texans into an organisation that reflects the values held dear — service, integrity, and commitment to community.”

While the Texans continue their pursuit of a first Super Bowl appearance under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the franchise does so on foundations laid by Janice and Bob McNair more than a quarter of a century ago. Her legacy will be measured not only by helping establish the NFL’s youngest franchise, but by the culture of philanthropy and community engagement that has remained central to the organisation ever since.

“Mrs McNair was an incredible woman who will be deeply missed,” Ryans concluded. “As a player, she and Mr McNair built an organisation that felt like a family and it was a true honour 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. We shared the same vision of bringing the organisation 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.”