The First Lady of the Houston Texans has passed away.
The Texans announced Tuesday that Janice McNair, the wife of the late Bob McNair and co-founder of the Texans, died Tuesday of natural causes.
She was 89.
“Mom was exceptional. She exuded kindness, radiated joy, had an endless amount of hope and love, and lived an incredible life centered around faith, family, philanthropy and football,” Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair said in a statement. “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. I remain honored 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 organization. While I’m heartbroken, I take great comfort in knowing she is now reunited with my dad, her favorite teammate.”
Moving to Houston in 1960, Janice and Bob raised four children and were responsible for bringing football back to the city after Bud Adams moved the Oilers to Tennessee in 1997. In 1998, the McNairs spent $700 million in 1998 to purchase an expansion franchise, making Houston the 32nd NFL team in league history.
Fans and colleagues across the league paid their respects on Tuesday following the team’s announcement.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Social media reacts to the passing of Texans co-founder, senior chair Janice McNair
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cole Thompson, Texans Wire | USA TODAY Network
