ORLANDO, Fla. – Cal McNair was officially approved as the Texans’ new principal owner with a vote Tuesday morning by his fellow owners at the annual NFL league meetings.
It was a unanimous vote, per a league source.
Since his father, Bob McNair, the founder and original owner of the Texans, passed away five years ago after a long battle with cancer, Cal McNair has been a leader for the AFC South franchise.
Now, the Texans’ chairman and CEO has replaced his mother, Janice McNair, as principal owner, which she strongly supported. Cal McNair is the chair of the NFL audit committee and a member of the investment committee and is well-liked by his fellow owners.
“I first want to acknowledge the incredible work my mom has done over the last five years since taking over,” Cal McNair said in a statement following the vote. “She has been an inspirational leader for our family, our team and our community. I can’t thank her enough for the foundation she has helped build and her countless contributions both on and off the field. It’s an exciting time to be a Houston Texan and I’m honored to lead this franchise. This move ensures the long-term stability of our franchise and we will continue to operate the way we have been over the last couple years, pursuing a championship for the City of Houston while doing great things in the community and for our fans.”
Over the years, Jerry Jones and Bob McNair built a strong friendship and mutual respect as two Texas-based NFL owners who were aligned on many important league issues.
And the Dallas Cowboys’ owner strongly supported the proposal to formally approve Cal McNair, as the new principal owner of the AFC South franchise.
“He was mentored by one of the finest men and one of the best owners ever to be in the NFL in Bob McNair,” Jones told KPRC 2 at the Ritz Carlton. “He’s been mentored. I’d vote for him every time.”
The team is not for sale, according to a league source, and this vote is expected to solidify the long-term plans for the AFC South franchise going forward. Cal McNair was already in charge of all workings of the team on a daily basis and he and his wife, Hannah McNair, the vice president of the Texans’ charitable foundation, work together in support of each other, the team’s employees and the overall direction of the defending AFC South champions.
When Jones’ comment was relayed to him, Cal McNair became emotional.
“That’s very nice, Jerry has been a friend and a mentor to the family and the team since Day 1,” Cal McNair said. “We have a lot of respect for him. He’s a tremendous person. For him to say that, it’s really, really nice. It makes me feel special. They’ve always been friends, fellow teams in Texas. We’re always rooting for them when it’s not us.”
This positive development followed a family court battle involving Janice McNair, a senior chairperson and co-founder that was resolved favorably as her son, Cary McNair, dropped a lawsuit seeking guardianship of his mother and her estate holdings.
“The Houston Texans mean so much to our family and I’m extremely proud that Cal will continue to lead the franchise moving forward,” Janice McNair said in a statement. “He has done such a terrific job as our CEO and we believe this move is what’s best for everyone involved with the organization to secure our future under Cal’s leadership. I know how pleased Bob would be to see this and our fans should be incredibly excited about the direction we are headed. I will continue to support Cal and the team in every way that I can and, of course, be rooting for us each and every week.”
Marc Ganis, the CEO of Sportscorp and an advisor to multiple NFL teams on team sales, relocations and stadium developments, said the NFL is being more progressive about succession plans.
“It’s very smart,’ Ganis told KPRC 2. “What you do is you eliminate uncertainty that would happen when the inevitable occurs for all of us when we pass away. The succession typically of a controlling owner who’s a man would go to his wife, his widow, lots of tax reasons for that and other reasons. As the widow turns over control to children, it’s good to select one at the right time. The McNair family felt this was the right time to actually do the formal designation, meet all the league rules and tests, the interest the individual needs to own personally, how much the family needs to control, having the votes and they have the background check stuff.
“Now, you approve it and you’ve addressed any uncertainty for generations to come. We have examples where there have been challenges to trusts, challenges to competence of controlling members, whether that’s something you folks have just experienced in Houston or that be Tom Benson in New Orleans and there have been others in the NFL. This is a way of assuring you won’t have that kind of dispute or uncertainty among families.”
The McNair family hiring coach DeMeco Ryans last year led to an 11-8 season that included a wild-card playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns.
And quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson Jr., were named the NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year, respectively.
“Cal has been outstanding to work with, him and Hannah both,” Ryans told a group of Houston reporters Monday morning at the NFL meetings. “What I’ve always loved about the organization is that family environment Cal has been great to work with, in him working with myself and Nick. Just awesome owners.
“It’s great to work for great owners, great people who truly care about the players. They care about the people working in the organization. That’s what sets them apart is their heart is they’re very genuine. They love football. They love to win They’re passionate about it and we are as well, so it’s easy to work together.”
ORLANDO, Fla. -- #Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair on what it would mean for him to he voted principal owner Tuesday, and #Cowboys owner Jerry Jones telling @KPRC2 he would 'vote for him every time' emphasizing the mentoring of his father, the late team co-founder Bob McNair… pic.twitter.com/1Mrs5ZmfTP
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 25, 2024
Harris County probate court Judge Jerry Simoneaux denied Cary McNair’s request for an independent medical exam that effectively ended the legal dispute.
If Cary McNair had been successful in obtaining guardianship of his mother, that could have potentially affected control of the defending AFC South champion Texans franchise at some point.
Instead, the legal matter is now behind the family as Cary McNair and all the family and related parties involved filed to end the lawsuit.
“Cal thinks it’s great, great for the fans, great for the team, great for the organization, and he’s just glad this is over. Most importantly, happy for his mother,” Paul Dobrowski, Cal McNair’s attorney, told KPRC 2 in a telephone interview. “They can remain totally focused on the draft and next season without this distraction. Cal is very thankful for Judge Simoneaux. He really can’t say enough good things about him and how he handled this. His ruling on the IME was critical and helped get this matter resolved. Janice is going to remain on as the senior chairperson for the Texans and she is actively involved with Cal. So, steady in the boat and excited for next season.”
The attorney for Janice McNair had previously told KPRC 2 that he planned to request a dismissal of the probate court case after Simoneaux’s ruling.
Janice McNair is the 87-year-old widow of Bob McNair, the late owner and founder of the team.
Cary McNair was seeking an independent medical exam and guardianship of his mother with his attorneys, arguing that Janice McNair was mentally incapacitated, including allegations that she had memory loss and other cognitive function issues.
This allegation regarding her mental condition was strongly denied and opposed in court by Janice McNair and her attorney, Don Jackson, and Cal McNair, through Dobrowski, as well as by her primary care physician.
“We received the judge’s ruling, we got the order late this morning, and Judge Simoneaux denied Cary McNair’s request for an independent medical exam, and we believe that is absolutely the correct ruling,” attorney Don Jackson said in a telephone interview. “We are very pleased. We appreciate Judge Simoneaux and his staff for all of their hard work and consideration of this case. We don’t know the time and when, but we will be asking the judge to dismiss the case.”
“Janice is very happy. I spoke with Janice a couple of times today and she is very pleased. She wants this behind her and she doesn’t want the stress of this ruling. She wants to put it all behind her.”
Court filings revealed the since-resolved legal dispute and a battle within the family while the AFC South champion Texans were preparing for an AFC wild-card playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Janice McNair suffered a stroke in January 2022.
“Janice McNair is feeling good and she is doing well,” Jackson said.
Cal McNair has been the chairman and CEO of the Texans since his father’s passing after previously holding titles of vice chairman and chief operating officer.
Bob McNair died after a long battle with skin cancer in November 2018 and Janice McNair took over as principal owner.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- #Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair and foundation vice president Hannah McNair on road uniform leak and how team pivoted to show the uniforms being worn by Tank Dell and Nico Collins 'We got huddled up pretty quick. We addressed it straight on' @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/olxHaHJaeH
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 25, 2024
Cal McNair has been the primary leader of the organization since his father’s death
The Texans had their most successful season in years since hiring Ryans and drafting Stroud second overall. They lost in the AFC divisional round to the Baltimore Ravens, ending their season. And Ryans finished a close second by one less first-place vote in the Coach of the Year balloting won by Browns coach Kevin Stefanski.
Purchased in 1999 for $600 million, the Texans have a Forbes valuation of $5.5 billion.
When asked about Janice McNair’s thoughts on the improvement of the football team’s performance, Jackson replied, “I promise you Janice McNair is very pleased with this past season. She is looking forward to next season.”
Retired Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, during a press conference after the season, discussed his selection for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and said he recently had a fun conversation with Janice McNair after learning of his pending induction.
“I remember going to Mrs. McNair’s house and informing her that I made it, and just how happy she was,” Johnson said. “Even her, she was like, ‘We’re not just partying for one day, we’re going to party all year!’ She was so excited, she was so happy. What they’ve done for me and my family, you can’t really repay that.
“Them taking a chance on me... a young 22-year-old guy... and me being able to do what I’ve done for the organization. I know they appreciate it and they let me know that they do. Them just telling me how happy they were. We had some emotional moments, too. It was just a great feeling to have them there and experience all this with me.”
#Texans foundation vice president Hannah McNair on DeMeco Ryans' leadership 'It's been phenomenal' @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/EYzxz9L5f3
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 25, 2024
Aaron Wilson is the Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com