50 Fun Facts About Houston Texans

In which season did the Houston Texans begin play?

The league awarded Houston the 32nd franchise in October 1999; the team was founded that year but did not kick off until 2002.

The Texans replaced which previous Houston NFL franchise, which had left for Nashville?

The Oilers played in Houston from 1960 to 1996 before moving to Tennessee and becoming the Titans in 1999; the Adams family retained the rights to the old name.

Who founded the Texans and owned the team until his death in 2018?

Bob McNair, who sold his power company Cogen Technologies to Enron in 1999, paid the expansion fee and ran the Texans until his death in November 2018.

How much did the NFL charge for the expansion franchise awarded to Houston on October 6, 1999?

The $700 million fee was a record for an NFL expansion franchise, far above the $140 million each that Carolina and Jacksonville had paid in 1993.

Which team did the Texans beat in their inaugural regular-season game?

The Dallas Cowboys fell 19–10 at Reliant Stadium in the Texans' first regular-season game, a Sunday-night opener; Houston finished that debut year 4–12.

Who was the Texans' first head coach?

Dom Capers, previously the expansion Carolina Panthers' first coach, led the Texans for their first four seasons and was fired after the last of them.

What unwanted NFL record did the Texans' first-ever draft pick, David Carr, set as a rookie?

Most times sacked in a season became Carr's record when he went down 76 times as a rookie behind an expansion line; he was sacked 68 times more in 2005.

Whom did the Texans surprisingly take first overall in 2006 over Reggie Bush and Vince Young?

Mario Williams, the NC State defensive end, went first overall in April 2006 and made two Pro Bowls in Houston before leaving for Buffalo in 2012.

Which native Houstonian coached the Texans from 2006 to 2013, leading them to their first two division titles?

Gary Kubiak, a Houston native who quarterbacked at Texas A&M, coached the Texans from 2006 until his dismissal in December 2013, then won Super Bowl 50 with Denver.

In which season did the Texans win their first AFC South title and reach the playoffs for the first time?

The 2011 Texans went 10–6 with Wade Phillips's new defense and rookie J. J. Watt, then beat Cincinnati 31–10 in the wild-card round.

Which wide receiver, drafted third overall in 2003, was the first Hall of Fame inductee primarily as a Texan?

Andre Johnson, a Miami Hurricane taken third in 2003, was the first inductee into the Texans' Ring of Honor in 2017 and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

Which undrafted running back out of Tennessee, signed by Houston, led the NFL in rushing in 2010?

Arian Foster ran for 1,616 yards in 2010, celebrated touchdowns with a namaste bow, and made four Pro Bowls with the Texans.

J. J. Watt was drafted 11th overall out of which college?

Watt started at Central Michigan as a tight end, then walked on at Wisconsin, where he won the 2010 Lott Trophy as a defensive end before going 11th overall to Houston.

How many times was J. J. Watt named AP Defensive Player of the Year in his first five seasons?

Three awards — for 2012, 2014 and 2015 — came in Watt's first five seasons, matching Lawrence Taylor's career total; he was also the 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year.

J. J. Watt became the first player in NFL history to do what?

Record two 20-sack seasons: Watt posted 20.5 in both 2012 and 2014, something no player had managed since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, and he also scored receiving touchdowns in 2014.

After Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston in 2017, J. J. Watt's fundraiser brought in roughly how much?

The total reached $41.6 million after Watt set an initial goal of just $200,000; the effort earned him the 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Which Clemson receiver, drafted 27th by the Texans in 2013, was traded to Arizona in a much-criticised 2020 deal?

DeAndre Hopkins went to the Cardinals in March 2020 for running back David Johnson and a second-round pick, a year after his third straight first-team All-Pro selection.

Which quarterback did the Texans trade up to take 12th overall in 2017?

Deshaun Watson, fresh from Clemson's national title, went 12th after Houston traded up; a torn ACL in practice ended his rookie season after six starts and 19 touchdown passes.

The Texans traded Deshaun Watson to which team for a haul including three first-round picks?

The Cleveland Browns gave up first-round picks in consecutive drafts plus additional selections for Watson, who then missed 11 games under an NFL suspension while facing civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct.

The Texans started 0–3 in 2018 and then did what, an NFL first for a team with that start?

Won nine straight games is exactly what they did, starting with a 37–34 overtime win at Indianapolis in Week 4; the run carried Houston to an 11–5 record and the AFC South title.

In the 2019 divisional round the Texans led Kansas City 24–0 before losing by what score?

Kansas City outscored Houston 51–7 the rest of the way after trailing 24–0 and won 51–31 on 12 January 2020, then went on to win Super Bowl LIV.

Which quarterback signed a big four-year deal with Houston in 2016, then was benched?

Brock Osweiler, signed for $72 million over four years, was benched for Tom Savage, returned to start the playoff win over Oakland when Savage was concussed, then threw multiple interceptions in a 34–16 divisional loss at New England.

Which HBO series featured the Texans in 2015?

Hard Knocks spent its 2015 training-camp season with Houston; that year the Texans started 2–5, released Ryan Mallett after he missed a team flight, and yet won the AFC South before a 30–0 wild-card loss to Kansas City.

Which former Texans linebacker became the team's sixth head coach in January 2023?

DeMeco Ryans, the Texans' 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year, arrived from the 49ers, where he had been defensive coordinator, and won the AFC South in his first season.

C. J. Stroud was drafted second overall in 2023 out of which school?

Stroud started two seasons at Ohio State, finishing as a Heisman finalist both years, before going second overall and winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Rookie C. J. Stroud set a single-game rookie record in 2023 with how many passing yards?

Stroud threw for 470 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions against Tampa Bay in Week 9, breaking Andrew Luck's single-game rookie record of 433.

Which defensive end did Houston trade up to take third overall in 2023, later Defensive Rookie of the Year?

Will Anderson Jr., the Alabama edge rusher, came at the cost of a trade-up from 12th to third with Arizona and won Defensive Rookie of the Year after a seven-sack debut season.

The 2023 Texans became the first NFL team to win their division under what combination?

A rookie head coach and rookie QB led Houston from last in the AFC South the previous year to a 10–7 division title; Stroud then became the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game.

Which team did the Texans beat 30–6 in 2025 for their first road playoff win?

They had been the only franchise never to win on the road in the postseason; the run ended a week later at New England after four first-half Stroud interceptions.

Which Texans linebacker was named 2009 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?

Brian Cushing, a 2009 first-round pick from USC, won Defensive Rookie of the Year and kept the award when the AP held an unprecedented re-vote after his 2010 suspension.

The Texans' logo is an abstract bull's head split to resemble what?

The Texas flag is echoed by the split head's red and blue halves with the white star as the eye, a design unveiled with the team name in September 2000.

The Texans' founder gave the team colours what names?

Deep Steel Blue, Battle Red and Liberty White are the official names; the primary helmet has always been the dark blue, and on Battle Red Day the team wears its red jerseys.

What is the name of the Texans' costumed mascot?

Toro, a blue bull, has been the Texans' costumed mascot since the franchise's debut season.

The Texans' 2010s nickname 'Bulls on Parade' comes from a song by which band?

Rage Against the Machine released 'Bulls on Parade' in 1996 on the album Evil Empire, and the Texans adopted it for their pregame introductions in the 2010s.

The Texans' stadium, known as both Reliant and NRG Stadium, was the first NFL venue with what?

A retractable roof made Reliant Stadium, built next to the Astrodome for the Texans' debut season, the first NFL venue of its kind.

Which two Super Bowls did the Texans' home stadium host in the 2000s and 2010s?

Super Bowls XXXVIII and LI were played there: New England beat Carolina 32–29 in February 2004, and the Patriots rallied from 28–3 to beat Atlanta in February 2017.

Which division rival did the Texans fail to beat until the 2006 season?

The Indianapolis Colts won the first nine meetings before Houston finally beat them 27–24 on Christmas Eve 2006.

The Texans and their in-state NFC rivals contest what trophy when they meet?

The Governor's Cup was first contested in preseason games between Houston's previous NFL team and the state's other franchise, and passed to the Texans when they arrived.

In which season did the Texans record their first franchise tie, in an opener against the Colts?

The 20–20 draw with the Colts opened the 2022 season, Lovie Smith's only one as head coach, which ended 3–13–1 and with his firing.

Which head coach was fired after an 0–4 start in 2020, seven months after trading an All-Pro?

Bill O'Brien, who had also taken on the general manager's job, was dismissed in October 2020 after an 0–4 start that followed his March trade of the team's star receiver; Houston finished 4–12.

Who became the Texans' principal owner in 2024 when his mother transferred control to him?

Cal McNair had run the club as chairman and CEO since 2018, and NFL owners approved the transfer of his mother Janice's controlling interest to him in 2024.

What were the 2013 Texans' losing streak and final record?

The skid reached 14 games and 2–14 was the final record: after a 2–0 start the Texans lost every remaining game, with Wade Phillips finishing the season as interim coach.

What are the fan sections behind the north end zone of the Texans' stadium called?

The Bull Pen, behind the north end zone, is the Texans' official supporters section; its Bull Pen Pep Band plays throughout home games.

Before turning to football, Bob McNair made a failed 1997 bid for an expansion team in which league?

The NHL chose Atlanta, Columbus, Minnesota and Nashville in its 1997 expansion round, passing over McNair's Houston bid; he then turned to the NFL.

The five points of the lone star in the Texans' logo stand for pride, courage, strength, tradition and what?

Independence completes the list the Texans published for the star's five points; the bull itself nods to Texas cattle-ranching heritage.

The Texans were the first expansion team to win their opener since which team in 1961?

The Minnesota Vikings beat the Chicago Bears 37–13 in their 1961 debut; no expansion club won its opener again until the Texans did, after which Houston went 4–12.

Who served as the Texans' interim head coach for the rest of 2020 after Bill O'Brien was fired?

Romeo Crennel, then 73 and the Texans' associate head coach, took over in October 2020, went 4–8 the rest of the way and became the oldest head coach in NFL history.

David Culley, hired as head coach in January 2021, came from which team's staff?

The Baltimore Ravens had employed Culley as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach; he lasted one 4–13 season in Houston before defensive coordinator Lovie Smith was promoted.

Alongside Houston, which two cities were the favorites for the NFL's 32nd franchise in the late 1990s?

Los Angeles had lost both the Rams and the Raiders in 1995, but Houston won the vote in October 1999.

With which partner did Bob McNair found Houston NFL Holdings to chase the expansion franchise?

Steve Patterson, a former Houston Rockets executive, co-founded Houston NFL Holdings and teamed with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to push for a new domed stadium as part of the bid.