HOUSTON – It was an extremely special day for the McNair family as Janice McNair was formally inducted into the Texans’ Ring of Honor, joining Bob McNair, her late husband.
A co-founder and senior chair for the Texans, Janice McNair was honored at halftime of a game against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium. Her name is now in the rafters of the stadium alongside Bob McNair, Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Johnson and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year defensive end J.J. Watt.
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“Mom, we’re all here today because of you,” said Cal McNair, Janice’s son and the Texans’ principal owner and CEO. “You helped bring football back to Houston and you have always been the heartbeat of the team. Your imprint on our organization and the community is immeasurable and I know how pleased dad would be here today. I’m so proud your name will be up there in the rafters alongside his, Andre’s and J.J.’s right where it belongs.”
Janice McNair was overcome with emotion during the ceremony, visibly happy at being given the highest honor the franchise bestows.
“Let’s go Texans,” she said. “Let’s win this ballgame.”
Janice McNair inducted formally into #Texans Ring of Honor, joining her late husband, Bob McNair, Andre Johnson and J.J. Watt @KPRC2 Janice said 'Let's go Texans, lets win this ballgame' pic.twitter.com/BLmfifFqEQ
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 2, 2025
Janice McNair, joined on the field by Cal McNair, his wife, Hannah McNair, the team’s foundation vice president, and Johnson, who presented her with a framed portrait of her and Bob McNair, was saluted for helping to bring back football to Houston.
McNair, 89, helped bring the NFL back to Houston in 2002 after the Oilers moved to Tennessee after the 1996 season.
“I could not have been asked to be drafted to a team with better ownership and that starts with Bob and Janice,” retired Texans linebacker Brian Cushing said. “More so just from the personal relationship side and what they brought to the team and the players and the community. It was huge for them to bring football back to Houston. They were very passionate about it, but not only that, they were passionate about growing the community and making it a tighter-knit city. Everything they hoped to do, they’ve done and succeeded.”
Watt recognized Janice McNair on his social media account. Watt was in Pittsburgh working for CBS Sports as he called the Steelers’ game against the Indianapolis Colts.
“Mrs. McNair is one of the sweetest, kindest souls this great world has to offer,” Watt wrote. “I’m incredibly thankful that our paths have crossed and for all she’s done and continues to do for Houston. I wish I could be there today to celebrate her. Please give her a warm hug for me.”
Since moving to Houston in 1960, she and Bob McNair have been leaders in the community with a long legacy of philanthropy. She has been instrumental in the Texans’ charitable foundation launched in 2002 when the franchise was started. Since its inception, they have raised more than $50 million to help the community.
“My parents brought football back to Houston more than 20 years ago and ever since, my mom has given so much to our city and our organization,” Cal McNair said. “There is no one more deserving of being the next member of this illustrious group than mom. She continues to be our team’s biggest fan, and I know how proud dad would be to see her name join his in the rafters of NRG Stadium.”
She is a breast cancer survivor and the proud mother of four children, 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grand children.
“She’s been everything,” Cal McNair said. “She’s been who we model so much of what we do. And we’re here today because of her and she and dad believed in giving back to community and being part of the community.”
Through The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, the McNairs created McNair Scholars programs to recruit and support exceptional students and faculty at institutions including the University of South Carolina, Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, UTHealth Houston and Texas Children’s Hospital. Their transformational 2007 gift to Baylor College of Medicine established the McNair Scholars Program, advancing groundbreaking medical research and improving patient care. In recognition of their generosity, the Baylor Medicine McNair Campus was named in their honor.
In 2015, the McNairs expanded their philanthropic focus by establishing the McNair Centers for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise at the University of St. Thomas-Houston and the University of South Carolina. These centers foster understanding and appreciation for innovation, entrepreneurship and the principles of free enterprise in society.
“Especially just the embrace they had for me from Day 1 coming in,” Cushing said. “How active they were with the team at all times, whether it was training camp, regular practice, postgame, just seeing them around and them knowing every player’s name and on a personal level as well. When you talk to other players that have been with other organizations, it’s just not like that. How much they cared about the actual team and the people individually as well, it’s pretty special.”
Janice McNair was selected to receive the 2025 Houston Sports Awards Lifetime Achievement Award which recognizes individuals who have made a positive impact on the sports world and the Houston community. By receiving this honor, she joins a distinguished group of trail blazers whose contributions have shaped the city’s rich sports legacy and inspired future generations.
“I know it was a unanimous decision,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Mrs. Janice, with her love and affection for everybody, you talk about someone who supports, who loves Texans football. It wouldn’t happen without Mrs. Janice and Bob bringing football back to Houston. So, we’re thankful. As a city, we’re thankful for them bringing football back to Houston. She supports us in training camp. She’s out there every day supporting the team. I would say my fondest memory of Mrs. Janice is saying anytime I talk to her, she says, ‘Anytime you need a linebacker, I’m ready to go.’
“She loves football. She loves the Texans and she’s done everything in her power to make sure we have everything that we need as a team to be as successful as possible. So, we’re all thankful for Mrs. Janice and the late Mr. Bob McNair for what they’ve done to bring football to Houston and have our city fired up about football again. Now it’s on to us to continue to press it forward and take us to new heights.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com