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.