Bob McNair, who helped bring NFL football back to Houston after the Oilers moved to Nashville, has died at age 81. The Houston Texans owner and one of the leading voices in league ownership, passed away on Friday according to multiple reports.
McNair had battled various types of cancer in the last few years of his life. The NFL posted on Friday evening of the owner’s passing, and word quickly spread throughout the league that McNair was gone.
.@HoustonTexans owner Bob McNair has passed away at age 81: https://t.co/dmVI9XAgAa pic.twitter.com/seooUaeUzL
— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2018
McNair became an NFL owner in 1999, paying $700 million for an expansion franchise after the Oilers moved to Tennessee in 1997 to become the Titans.
His impact as an owner had been felt by many in the league. Some posted their condolences on Twitter, including Buffalo Bills co-owner Kim Pegula.
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Bob McNair. We will never forget how gracious he was to us as we transitioned into ownership of the Bills. On behalf of the Bills we extend our deepest condolences to the McNair family, the Houston Texans and their fans.
— Kim Pegula (@KimPegula) November 24, 2018
Former president George H.W. Bush also released a statement about McNair’s passing.
Statement by former President @GeorgeHWBush on the very sad news that his dear friend Bob McNair of the @HoustonTexans passed today. pic.twitter.com/kFm5aya18J
— Jim McGrath (@jgm41) November 24, 2018
McNair’s last moments in the public eye were less than flattering thanks to the NFL’s mishandling of the Colin Kaepernick situation. When Donald Trump’s attacks against athletes of color led to widespread protests among players, McNair was documented making an unfortunate analogy about the situation. McNair equated NFL players protesting as “inmates running the prison.”
McNair apologized to his team, which had reportedly considered a walkout in response to the quote. Instead, the entire team knelt in protest the next game, but his image in the league was tarnished by the incident.
