ONE
The NFL awarded its 32nd franchise to Houston on October 6th 1999 - marking the return of professional football to the city after the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee in 1997. Bob McNair, a Houston businessman, was instrumental in securing the team for the city - paying $700 million for the rights to the franchise.
Houston Texans Logo
TWO
The Houston Texans began their first NFL season in 2002, playing their home games at the newly built Reliant Stadium - now the NRG Stadium. Under the leadership of head coach Dom Capers and first-overall pick, quarterback David Carr, the Texans made an immediate impact - winning their first-ever regular season game against the storied Dallas Cowboys, 19-10.
David Carr, Quarterback 2002-2006
THREE
After struggling to find continued success for four seasons under the leadership of Dom Capers, the Texans hired Gary Kubiak as head coach in 2006. Kubiak - a former backup quarterback turned offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos - aimed to turn the young Texans into a competitive team. That same year, Houston also drafted defensive end Mario Williams as the first-overall pick - a decision that while initially controversial, proved to be highly-beneficial down the line.
FOUR
Thanks to quarterback Matt Schaub leading the league in passing yards, and wide receiver Andre Johnson establishing himself as one of the NFL's top receivers, the Texans achieved their first-ever winning season in 2009 - finishing with a 9-7 record. Despite narrowly missing the playoffs, the team’s new-found success left Texans fans eagerly anticipating what was to come.
Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver 2003-2014
FIVE
Despite injuries to key players, including starting quarterback Matt Schaub, the Texans won their first AFC South division title in 2011 - securing their first playoff berth with a 10-6 record. Rookie quarterback T.J. Yates stepped up in Schaub’s absence - leading the Texans to victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round before a gut-wrenching loss to the Baltimore Ravens a week later
SIX
The Texans had their best regular-season record to date in 2012 - finishing with a 12-4 record en route to another AFC South title. For the second-consecutive season, Houston defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round before being eliminated in the Divisional Round - this time by the New England Patriots. The 2012 season not only solidified the Texans as a rising force in the NFL, but young defensive end J.J Watt as one of the best defensive players in the league. A former first-round pick, Watt had one of the best seasons for a defensive player in NFL history - finishing with 69 solo tackles, 12 assisted tackles, 20.5 sacks, 16 passes defended, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Watt also scooped up his first of three Defensive Player of the Year awards.
J.J. Watt, Defensive End 2011-2020
SEVEN
After a disappointing 2013 season that led to the firing of Gary Kubiak, the Texans hired former Penn State head coach and New England Patriots offensive coordinator, Bill O'Brien as their new head coach. Known for his work with Tom Brady and the dominant Patriots offense, O'Brien was instrumental in the development of star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Drafted in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Hopkins was named an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler four times during his seven seasons with the Texans.
EIGHT
By 2015, Bill O’Brien had led the Texans back to the top of the AFC South with a 9-7 record. Despite the season coming to an end at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card round, the Texans went on to make the playoffs in the 2016, 2018 and 2019 seasons. However, they could only manage two postseason wins during that time.
British Houston Texans Fans
NINE
With only 11 wins over the next three seasons, Houston went through three different head coaches before landing on former Defensive Rookie of the Year for the Texans, DeMeco Ryans, following the 2022 season. In his first NFL Draft, Ryans made a splash - selecting quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second-overall pick before trading up to draft edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. with the very-next pick. Stroud and Anderson Jr swept the Rookie of the Year awards en route to a 10-7 record - an incredible bounceback after a 3-13-1 record in 2022. With a dominant victory in the Wild Card round, Stroud became the youngest QB in NFL history to win a playoff game, as he moved the Texans within just one win of their first-ever Conference Championship game. Despite their young talent, they were beaten by the Baltimore Ravens and league MVP Lamar Jackson. With a lot to be excited about following the 2023 season, the Texans made a splash when they acquired Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills - sending expectations skyhigh for the 2024 season.
C.J. Stroud, Quarterback 2023-Present
BEFORE YOU GO
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, which devastated Houston in 2017, J.J. Watt raised $41.6 million in relief funds - receiving the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award as a result.
After their success in 2023, the Houston Texans sold out every available season ticket for the 2024 season - marking the first time this has happened since 2019.
In 2023, Forbes valued the Houston Texans at $5.5 billion - making them the 12th most valuable franchise in the NFL.
