US Trends

when were the houston texans founded

The Houston Texans were founded in 1999 as an NFL expansion franchise and began play in the league in the 2002 season.

Quick Scoop

  • The NFL officially awarded Houston an expansion team in 1999, creating what would become the Houston Texans.
  • The franchise is the league’s 32nd team and the youngest current NFL franchise.
  • The Texans played their inaugural regular-season game in 2002, marking the return of NFL football to Houston after the Oilers moved to Tennessee.

Short timeline

  1. 1997 – Houston loses the Oilers when they relocate and later become the Tennessee Titans.
  1. 1999 – The NFL awards Houston a new expansion franchise (the Texans’ founding year).
  1. 2000 – The team is officially named the “Houston Texans” at a public event in downtown Houston.
  1. 2002 – The Texans play their first NFL season, starting a new era of pro football in the city.

In short: when people ask “when were the Houston Texans founded,” the key date is 1999, with on-field debut in 2002.

TL;DR: The Houston Texans were founded in 1999 and kicked off their first NFL season in 2002.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.