The Houston Texans are an NFL expansion team that was created to bring pro football back to Houston after the old Houston Oilers left for Tennessee in the late 1990s.

Quick Scoop: Origin Story

  • In 1997, Houston lost its original NFL team when the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee and later became the Tennessee Titans.
  • Local businessman Bob McNair then led a push to get the NFL back to the city, resulting in the league awarding Houston a new expansion franchise in 1999.
  • The team was officially named the “Houston Texans” at a downtown rally on September 6, 2000, with the name meant to reflect Texas pride and identity.
  • The Texans began playing games in 2002, making them the youngest franchise in the NFL.

So, the Houston Texans did not “move” from another city; they were created as a brand‑new expansion team to replace the Oilers and restore NFL football to Houston.

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