Natten til lørdag måtte Houston Texans viderebringe en trist nyhed. Ejer og grundlægger af Houston Texans, Bob McNair, er afgået ved døden i en alder af 81 år.
Det er ikke lang tid siden, at Seattle Seahawks’ ejer Paul Allen desværre afgik ved døden efter et kræftforløb. Nu er endnu en NFL-ejer død.
Houston Texans’ ejer og stifter Bob McNair døde natten til lørdag i en alder af 81 år. McNair har i flere år kæmpet med flere forskellige former for hudkræft og måtte nu opgive kampen.
It is with deep sadness that we announce Houston Texans Founder, Senior Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and philanthropist, Robert C. McNair passed away peacefully in Houston today with his loving wife, Janice, and his family by his side. pic.twitter.com/7J9PWoxKZv
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 23, 2018
McNair fik i 1999 lov til at starte Houston Texans, efter NFL udvidede ligaen til dets nuværende antal. Det var to år efter, at Houston Oilers havde flyttet til Tennessee for at blive til Titans. Texans trådte ind i ligaen i 2002 og har siden da vundet fire divisionstitler, senest i 2016.
McNair har i mange år forberedt den ene af sine to sønner, Cal McNair, til at overtage den daglige ledelse af holdet, mens ejerskabet vil blive overdraget til McNairs kone Janice.
På mandag, når Texans møder netop Tennessee Titans, vil holdet minde McNair ved at have et mindesmærke på hjelmen.
As expected, Bob McNair's death was the lead story on the KPRC and KHOU 6 p.m. news (KTRK was airing a football game). Monday night figures to be an emotional game for the #Texans at NRG. Not unlike when they played the Raiders there after Al Davis' death.
— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) November 24, 2018
My thoughts and prayers are with the McNair family. Mr. McNair gave me the opportunity to live out my dream. He was always a kind and sincere man to everyone in the Texans community and beyond. Rest In Peace.
— T.J. Yates (@TJ_Yates) November 24, 2018
Rest In Peace Mr. McNair. Thank you for the opportunity you have given me and allowing me to be a part of the Texans family. My family and I will be forever grateful.
— Tom Savage (@TomSavage03) November 24, 2018