History of the Houston Texans facts for kids
The history of the Houston Texans began in 2002, bringing the National Football League (NFL) back to Houston, Texas. Before this, Houston's team, the Houston Oilers, moved to Nashville, Tennessee and became the Tennessee Titans. The Texans are the newest team in the NFL. In their first nine years, they faced some challenges. However, in the 2010s, they became a stronger team in the NFL's AFC South division. Even so, they haven't yet reached a Super Bowl or a conference championship game.
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Bringing Football Back to Houston
In 1997, Houston lost its professional football team when the Oilers moved. This was the first time since 1959 that the city didn't have an NFL team. Many people, including businessman Bob McNair, wanted to bring football back. McNair decided to create Houston NFL Holdings to work towards this goal.
The Search for a Team
In October 1997, the NFL started looking at Houston as a possible city for a new team. The league had promised Cleveland an expansion team (the 31st team) after their team, the Browns, moved. It seemed likely the NFL would add a 32nd team soon. Houston was a strong candidate, along with Los Angeles and Toronto.
Houston's Big Bid
In March 1998, Cleveland officially got its team. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said the 32nd team would likely be added in the next two years. Houston was a top choice because it was a large media market and had recently lost its team. Los Angeles was also a strong contender, with plans for a new stadium.
By March 1999, NFL owners voted to give Los Angeles the 32nd team. However, this was only if Los Angeles could get an ownership group and stadium deal ready by September 15. If not, Houston would be considered. NFL executives visited Los Angeles and found little progress. There was no agreement on stadium funding, and competing groups couldn't work together. Houston, on the other hand, had promised a modern stadium in all its bids.
Commissioner Tagliabue became frustrated with Los Angeles's delays. He advised Bob McNair to continue discussions with the expansion committee. On September 9, 1999, the league's committee asked McNair to be ready for an NFL owners' meeting in October. Los Angeles was still struggling to finalize a plan.
In early October, one Los Angeles group offered $540 million for the team. However, McNair's Houston NFL Holdings offered a higher bid of $700 million. On October 6, 1999, McNair's hard work paid off. The NFL owners voted 29–0 to accept Houston's offer. Houston would also host Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.
The Texans Are Born!
After securing the team, things moved quickly. The team hired Charley Casserly as General Manager in January 2000. Many names were considered for the team, including Apollos, Stallions, and Texans.
On March 9, 2000, Houston celebrated the start of construction for Reliant Stadium (now NRG Stadium). This 69,500-seat stadium would be the NFL's first with a retractable roof.
Finally, on September 6, 2000, the team was officially named the Houston Texans. Bob McNair explained that "Texans" was chosen to be "unique to Houston and the NFL" and to represent the bravery of Texas natives.
On January 21, 2001, the Texans hired Dom Capers as their first head coach. Capers had been a defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars and a head coach for the Carolina Panthers. Houston was finally ready to rejoin the NFL.
First Seasons: 2002-2005
The Texans played their first game on August 5, 2002, against the New York Giants in Canton, Ohio. Their first regular season game was on September 8, 2002, against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium. Rookie quarterback David Carr threw a touchdown pass on the third play of the game. The Texans surprised the Cowboys, winning 19–10. They became only the second expansion team ever to win their first game.
The Texans finished their first season with a 4–12 record. Two players, Gary Walker and Aaron Glenn, were chosen for the Pro Bowl, which was a record for an expansion team. Despite Carr being sacked an NFL record 76 times, the season was seen as a success.
In 2003, the Texans again won their season opener, beating the Miami Dolphins. No other expansion team had won their first two season openers. They improved their record by one game, finishing 5–11. They showed they could compete, even with strong teams like the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots.
The 2004 season started slowly with three losses. Fans began to question the team's direction. However, the Texans eventually got their first winning streak in franchise history by beating the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. They swept their division rivals, the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. They were close to finishing 8–8, but lost their final game to the Cleveland Browns. Second-year receiver Andre Johnson was selected for his first Pro Bowl. This was also the only season until 2008 that the Texans didn't finish last in the AFC South.
The 2005 season was tough. The Texans started 0–6 and finished 2–14, the worst record in the league. This led to head coach Dom Capers being fired. General Manager Charley Casserly also left later. Gary Kubiak, a Houston native and offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, was hired as the new head coach.
The Texans had the first pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Many expected them to pick college star Reggie Bush or hometown hero Vince Young. However, in a surprising move, the Texans chose defensive end Mario Williams from North Carolina State. This decision angered many fans and was criticized by the media. Williams finished his rookie season with 4.5 sacks.
The Gary Kubiak Era: 2006-2013
Building a Strong Team
In 2006, Gary Kubiak made his head coaching debut. The Texans finished 6–10, four more wins than the previous year. Quarterback David Carr had a career-high 68.9% pass completion rate. Andre Johnson led the league in receptions with 103 and was selected for his second Pro Bowl. Rookie linebacker DeMeco Ryans was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In 2007, the Texans traded for quarterback Matt Schaub from the Atlanta Falcons. Schaub became the starting quarterback, and David Carr was released. The Texans started 2–0 but were hit with many injuries, including to Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson. Despite this, they finished with a .500 record (8–8) for the first time ever. Mario Williams set a franchise record with 14 sacks, and DeMeco Ryans was selected for his first Pro Bowl.
The 2008 season started with two losses. A home game against Baltimore was rescheduled due to Hurricane Ike. The Texans then won four games in a row, a franchise record. They finished the season with an 8–8 record again. Rookie running back Steve Slaton led all rookies with 1,282 rushing yards. Andre Johnson led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards. Johnson, Mario Williams, and tight end Owen Daniels were all selected for the Pro Bowl.
First Playoff Wins
The Texans continued to improve in 2009, finishing with their first-ever winning season at 9–7. They narrowly missed the playoffs due to tie-breaker rules. Matt Schaub had a record-breaking season with 4,770 passing yards. Andre Johnson also had another great season with 1,569 receiving yards. After the season, Gary Kubiak signed a contract extension.
In 2010, the Texans started with a win against the Indianapolis Colts. Running back Arian Foster rushed for over 200 yards in that game, a first for the Texans. They also had their first overtime win against the Washington Redskins, with Schaub throwing for a franchise record 497 passing yards. The Texans finished 6–10. After the season, Wade Phillips was hired as defensive coordinator.
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In 2011, under Wade Phillips's guidance and with new players like J. J. Watt, the Texans' defense improved greatly. Despite injuries to key players like Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, the Texans went 10–6 and won the AFC South division title. This was their first time reaching the playoffs. They defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 31–10 in the Wild Card Game, which was the first playoff game held in Houston since 1994. However, they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 20–13 in the next round.
In 2012, the Texans won the AFC South title again with a 12–4 record. J. J. Watt was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Houston again defeated the Bengals in the wild card game, 19–13. But they lost to the New England Patriots 41–28 in the divisional round.
The 2013 season was very difficult. The Texans started 2–0 but then lost their next 14 games. Quarterback Matt Schaub struggled and was eventually benched. Coach Gary Kubiak was fired with three games left in the season. The Texans finished with the worst record in the league, earning the top pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. They used this pick to draft edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
The Bill O'Brien Era: 2014-2020
New Coach, New Hope
In 2014, Bill O'Brien became the Texans' third head coach. With quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Texans won three of their first four games. They finished the 2014 season with a 9–7 record, just missing the playoffs.
Division Titles and Challenges
In 2015, the Texans were featured on the HBO show "Hard Knocks." They started with a 2–5 record but finished strong, winning their third AFC South title with a 9–7 record. However, they were shut out by the Kansas City Chiefs 30–0 in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
In 2016, the Texans signed quarterback Brock Osweiler to a big contract. He struggled, and coach Bill O'Brien benched him for backup quarterback Tom Savage. The Texans still clinched their fourth AFC South division title. They defeated the Oakland Raiders 27–14 in the playoffs but lost to the New England Patriots 34–16 in the next round.
In 2017, the Texans traded Brock Osweiler to the Cleveland Browns. They then drafted quarterback Deshaun Watson in the first round. Watson played well and set several rookie passing records. However, he suffered a season-ending knee injury. J. J. Watt and other key players also got injured. The Texans finished with a 4–12 record.
In 2018, owner Bob McNair passed away. His wife Janice and son Cal took over ownership. Despite starting 0–3, the Texans won nine games in a row, finishing with an 11–5 record and another AFC South title. But they lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
In 2019, the Texans traded Jadeveon Clowney to the Seattle Seahawks. They also added receiver Kenny Stills and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. The Texans won the division again with a 10–6 record. They overcame a big deficit to beat the Buffalo Bills 22–19 in overtime in the wild-card round. However, they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 51–31 in the Divisional round after losing a large early lead.
Recent Years: 2020s
Coaching Changes and Rebuilding
The 2020 off-season began with a big trade: star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was sent to the Arizona Cardinals. The Texans received running back David Johnson and draft picks. They also traded for wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
After starting the 2020 season with four losses, coach Bill O'Brien was fired. Romeo Crennel became the interim head coach. The team finished the season 4–12.
In 2021, the Texans hired David Culley as their new head coach. J.J. Watt was released after 10 years with the team and signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Quarterback Deshaun Watson wanted to be traded and did not play all season. The Texans signed Tyrod Taylor and drafted Davis Mills to play quarterback.
The Texans struggled again, finishing 4–13. Davis Mills showed some promise at quarterback. After just one season, David Culley was fired. Deshaun Watson was then traded to the Cleveland Browns.
In 2022, Lovie Smith was hired as the new head coach. The Texans tied their first game against the Indianapolis Colts, a first in franchise history. However, they quickly fell into a losing streak, their worst since 2005. They finished 3–13–1 and failed to win a home game. Lovie Smith was fired after only one season, making him the third head coach in a row to be fired after just one year with the team.
Images for kids
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Reliant Stadium (now NRG Stadium)
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Mario Williams, a top draft pick.
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Texans' offensive tackle Eric Winston in 2006.
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Jacoby Jones played as a returner and wide receiver for the Texans.
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Gary Kubiak, a former Texans head coach.
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Running back Steve Slaton.
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The Williams Tower in Houston lit up with "TEXANS".
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Quarterback Matt Schaub.
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Tight end Owen Daniels.
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Running back Arian Foster in 2010.
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Andre Johnson (left) and Brice McCain (right) at Texans' training camp in 2010.
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J. J. Watt in 2012
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Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins in 2014
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Quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2018
