Established: 2002
Home Field: Reliant Stadium – Houston, Texas
Owner(s): Bob McNair
General Manager: Rick Smith
Head Coach: Gary Kubiak

The Houston Texans joined the NFL as an expansion team in 2002 after the Houston Oilers were moved to Tennessee to become the Titans. Despite being a relatively new team, they have yet to qualify for the Super Bowl, and are the only team in the league that has not made it to the playoffs or posted a winning season.

In June 1997, Houston Oilers’ owner Bud Adams got the approval to move his team to Tennessee thus leaving Houston without a professional football team. There were attempts by Bob McNair and Chuck Watson to fill the gap with a professional hockey team, but they were unsuccessful. This sparked McNair’s full on campaign to get football back in Houston. The NFL was considering adding an expansion team at the time, as the Cleveland Browns would be returning to the league.

There were several cities in contention, but it was Los Angeles that ultimately scored the new expansion team. Knowing that the details were still being worked out between the NFL and the Los Angeles owners, McNair hung in there. By 1999, LA was unable to produce a solid plan or a suitable stadium, which prompted the NFL’s decision that Houston would be a more suitable place for the new team.

The Texans started their inaugural season off with a win against the Dallas Cowboys. They are only the second expansion team in history to win their first game. Though they kicked the season off successfully, the team went on to post a 4-12 record. Since then, they’ve made steady progress, improving their records each year. However, as mentioned, they have yet to produce a winning season. They currently play in the AFC South.

Championships

League Championships:
None

Conference Championships:
None

Division Championships:
None

Texans Trivia

• The Texans first head coach was Dom Capers who was also the first head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
• When naming the team, there were four other names that were being considered: Bobcats, Apollos, Stallions, and Wildcatters.
• Toro – a blue bull – is the mascot for the Houston Texans.