On This Day In 2000: Texans Owner Bob McNair Reveals New Team Name & Logo
When Houston won the turf war with Los Angeles about an expansion team making its return to the gridiron in the city, then-owner Bob McNair went to work on a team name.
McNair wanted to please fans that wanted a "timeless, not trendy" look to the team's logo and uniform, while having a "unique" logo that's "true to Houston." On September 6, 2000, he stood in front of a crowd in downtown Houston and unveiled the Texans' name and logo, which has remained unchanged for the last 23 years.
"On Sunday afternoons during the fall, we'll wrap ourselves in battle red, deep steel blue and liberty white," McNair said. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to be a Houstonian, and I'm proud to be a Texan. And so with great pride and anticipation, I introduce to you your Houston Texans."
Finding a replacement for the beloved Houston Oilers — who were the city's football franchise from 1960-96 — wasn't an easy one, though.
In McNair's vision for a logo, he wanted an animal that was "powerful and intimidating" and called on NFL Films to create a short video to display what the spirit of the bull is to Texans everywhere.
"Like the proud people of Houston, the bull stands for strength, power and independence," the narrator said. "From the small towns to the big cities, these qualities are a Texas tradition just like the game of football. The city of Houston, with its eyes on the future, is once again set to charge through the National Football League."
McNair then unveiled a banner with the logo and the slogan "Our Brand of Football," while confetti rained down and t-shirts were handed out to fans. The crowd cheered just like they have — sometimes more often than others with the team's recent struggles — for the last 21 years.
