Janice McNair is an American businesswoman and philanthropist, the billionaire Co-founder and former Principal Owner (now Senior Chair) of the Houston Texans (NFL). Her wealth is generational, tied to the massive energy and finance empire built by her late husband, Bob McNair (d. 2018).

McNair grew up in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and holds an education degree from Columbia College. She and Bob McNair moved to Houston in 1960. Her career became defined by her stewardship of the family's assets and her immense philanthropic commitment to education and medical research.

• Houston Texans (NFL) (Senior Chair & Co-founder): The core asset, the NFL franchise that brought football back to Houston (founded in 2002). She recently transferred principal ownership to her son, Cal McNair (2024).
• Philanthropy: The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation and Houston Texans Foundation have contributed over half a billion dollars to charity, focusing on education and medical research.
• Civic Honors: She is the fourth person to be inducted into the Houston Texans Ring of Honor (2025).
• Family Governance: Her son, Cal McNair, is the current Chair and CEO.

Janice McNair's strategic leadership centered on bringing football back to Houston (co-founding the team in 2002) and maintaining the franchise's dedication to the community. Since her husband's death in 2018, she served as Principal Owner before transferring ownership to her son Cal McNair in March 2024. Her structural contribution is ensuring the stability and philanthropic mission of the franchise.

Her greatest personal and structural contribution is her philanthropy. The Houston Texans Foundation has raised over $50 million for community programs, and she personally donated $1 million to the Houston Rent Relief fund during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2025, she was nominated for the Texans Ring of Honor, joining her late husband and key players, an honor she initially felt she didn't deserve, demonstrating her humble approach to her high status.

Janice McNair's social impact is massive and structural, tied to the Houston Texans' role as a major civic asset and her family's vast philanthropic efforts (contributing over half a billion dollars to charity). The McNair Medical Institute and Educational Foundation (in North Carolina) are foundational contributors to medical research and educational access.

Her structural contribution is tied to the long-term stability of the NFL franchise in Houston and her commitment to community welfare (supporting rent relief and community building projects).

Janice McNair maintains the professional, composed style of a Texas matriarch and NFL owner. Her attire is consistently formal and high-quality, often favoring tailored suits and team colors. Her aesthetic reflects her stability and her commitment to philanthropy and the Houston community.

Residing in Houston, Texas, her luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from her multi-billion dollar fortune. Her life is dedicated to the stewardship of her family's sports and financial legacy and her profound commitment to education and medical research.