Houston Texans are no longer an expansion team, but a competitor in the playoffs and a team with a dedicated fan base. They have not made a Super Bowl so far but with their recent rejuvenation under Ryans and Stroud they are now a team to look at in the coming years.
Founding & Early Years (1999–2002)
- History: Houston became the only city in the country without a football team when the Houston oilers moved to Tennessee (to become the Titans in 1997). Bob McNair was a business man who spearheaded an ownership team to revive football.
- Expansion Approval: In October 1999, the NFL granted Houston the 32 th franchise in the league at a cost of 700 million dollars over Los Angeles.
- Team Name and Branding: The name hoouston Texans was adjusted in 2000 and it was the manifestation of the Texas pride. Colors: Deep Steel blue, Battle red and Liberty White.
- First Draft Pick: The Texans have not had the first draft pick before but in 2002, the team picked David Carr (QB).
Inaugural Season (2002)
- To the Dallas Cowboys, the Texans shocked their first game in regular-season play at Reliant Stadium (now NRG Stadium) on September 8, 2002, defeating them 1910.
- Completed the first year with a respectable 412 which makes sense in an expansion team.
Building Years (2003–2006)
- Initial years were characterized by growing pains such as poor offensive line workings and 76 times David Carr was sacked in 2002 to set a record.
- In 2003, Andre Johnson was drafted and he was the first actual superstar WR in the franchise.
- The fights went on with record losses, and in 2005 Dom Capers lost his position as head coach after 2 seasons of 2–14.
Gary Kubiak Era & Rise (2006–2013)
- Gary Kubiak is a native Houstonian who was named as head coach in 2006.
- The foundation was made by draft picks such as Mario Williams (2006), DeMeco Ryans and J. J. Watt ( 2011 ).
- The Texans gradually got better as in 2009 they had the first winning season (9 7).
- Breakthrough (2011):
o Won AFC south title first.
o First playoff win ( vs Bengals).
- Repeated as division champions in 2012, had a 124 record and played deep into the playoffs.
J.J. Watt & Defensive Dominance (2011–2016)
- Watt, a 2011 draft pick, was already the image of the franchise:
o 3× Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014, 2015).
o Respected as a defensive lineman known to make sacks, forced fumblings and even scoring touchdowns.
- Between 2011 and 2016, the Texans achieved 4 AFC South titles but had minimal success in the post season.
Deshaun Watson Era (2017–2020)
- QB Deshaun Watson QB Deshaun Watson was drafted in 2017 and he came in to energize the offense with his dual threat capability.
- Lost straight division championships in 2018 and 2019.
They won a dramatic Wild Card game over Buffalo in 2019 but lost a 24-0 lead over Kansas City in the Divisional Round.
- Coach/GM Bill O’Brien was fired due to internal strife, trades (including WR DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona) and an abysmal 2020 season (4 12).
Turmoil & Rebuild (2021–2022)
- Watson is missing the whole of the 2021 season, and asked a trade, but later suffered severe off-field legal problems.
- The Texans suffered back-to-back 4 13 and 3 13-1 seasons of head coach David Culley (2021) and Lovie Smith (2022).
- Other veterans such as Watt also left, and this was an indication of complete renovation.
Ryans and New Hope (2023-Present) is a project by DeMeco.
- Former Texans linebacker and new head coach DeMeco Ryans was hired in the year 2023.
- 2023 1st-round: C.J. Stroud (QB) and Will Anderson Jr. (DE).
- Much to his credit, Stroud became an immediate star, and won Offensive Rookie of the Month, and made Houston:
o 2023 AFC South title.
o An unexpected turnaround such as winning the playoff against Cleveland.
- The team is currently ranked as one of the most promising young franchise in the NFL.
Key Achievements
- Division Titles: 7 (2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023).
- Playoff Record: 5–7 (as of 2023).
- Notable Players: Andre Johnson, J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, Deshaun Watson, C.J. Stroud.
Conclusion
Houston Texans is an epic of survival, perseverance, and the persistence of a city bent upon regaining its niche in the NFL. The franchise began as an empty slate in 2002 after being born out of disappointments following the relocation of the Oilers and had to struggle like any expansion team.
First seasons were characterized by teenage angst, such as draft blunders, a leaky offensive line and the difficulty of establishing a competitive culture in the first place. However, even during these early stages, the Texans established a foundation toward success in the future as they developed the core players of the future such as Andre Johnson and, subsequently, J.J. Watt who would all be pride and excellence of Houston.
The Kubiak era marked the first taste of success to the team, as division titles and playoff wins brought credibility to the team. Watts reign over on the defensive side characterized an age, and proved that the Texans were capable of performing on the top level.
Another turning point was the arrival of Deshaun Watson, which brought hope of an electric offense and re-emergence in the playoffs. But the instability of the off-field scandals, trades and coaching shuffles showed how unstable success in the NFL today is.
Nevertheless, with all these disappointments, the new revival of the Texans under DeMeco Ryans and young talents such as C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. depicts a franchise that has a new dawn of potential.
The fact that they are ranked as the fastest-rising team in 2023, clinching the AFC South and scoring a playoff triumph, speaks volumes to the fact that Houston is not just rebuilding at this point, but it is getting up.
To sum it up, the history of the Houston Texans is not only a history of victory and defeat; it is a story of vision, patience and change. The Texans are a living example of perseverance in that they started as an expansion team and are now a franchise that will be a defining characteristic in the AFC South.
Their history reminds fans that success is a process, which is influenced by the courageous choices, star power, and the desire to develop. The city of Houston can also expect a franchise that does not just represent its pride and its ability to stand up, but also has a chance to compete on the national level and win the NFL in the future as the Texans are still developing young talent and defining their identity.
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