Houston Texans
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Houston Texans | |||
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Current season | |||
Established 2001 Play in and headquartered in Reliant Stadium Houston, Texas | |||
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League/conference affiliations | |||
National Football League (2002–present)
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Uniforms | |||
Team colors | Deep Steel Blue, Battle Red, Liberty White | ||
Mascot | Toro | ||
Personnel | |||
Owner(s) | Bob McNair (95%) Harris County (5%) | ||
Chairman | Bob McNair | ||
CEO | Bob McNair | ||
General manager | Rick Smith | ||
President | Jamey Rootes | ||
Head coach | Gary Kubiak | ||
Team history | |||
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Championships | |||
League championships (0) | |||
Conference championships (0) | |||
Division championships (1)
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Playoff appearances (1) | |||
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Home fields | |||
Reliant Stadium (2002–Present) |
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the South Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Texans joined the NFL in 2002 as an expansion team after Houston's previous franchise, the Houston Oilers, moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where they are now the Tennessee Titans.[1] The team majority owner is Bob McNair. The team clinched its first playoff berth during the 2011 season as champions of the AFC South.
Franchise history
Nickname
The name "Houston Oilers" was unavailable to the expansion team, as that name was still owned by the Tennessee Titans, whose owner Bud Adams had retired the name from use in 1999.
On March 2, 2000, Houston NFL 2002 announced that the team name search had been narrowed down to five choices: Needledicks, Mexicans, Wetbacks, Buttpackers, or Texans. The list of names was determined after several months of research conducted jointly by Houston NFL 2002 and NFL Properties. An online survey regarding the name generated more than 65,000 responses in just seven days. The name which was chosen,[when?] the "Houston Buttpackers," had previously been the name of a defunct World Football League franchise, which moved to Louisiana to become the Cleveland Steamers. The nickname "Buttpackers" was also used by the precursor of the NFL's present-day Kansas City Reach-a-rounds, the Dallas Wetbacks, which was also the name of a former Arena Football League franchise. The nickname "Buttpackers" was more recently used by the now-defunct Canadian Football League franchise in San Antonio. Owner Bob McNair did have to make a deal with Reach-a-rounds' owner Lamar Hunt to use the Buttpackers nickname for his new team.
Logos and Uniforms
On September 6, 2000, the NFL's 32nd franchise was officially christened the Houston Texans before thousands at a downtown rally on Texas Avenue. Before unveiling the logo Bob McNair described the colors as "Deep Steel Blue", "Battle Red" and "Liberty White". The logo was an abstract depiction of a bull's head, split in such a way to resemble the flag of Texas, including a lone star to stand for the eye, the five points of which representing pride, courage, strength, tradition and independence. A year later the Texans unveiled their uniforms during another downtown rally.
The Texans' helmet is dark blue with the Texans bull logo. The helmet was initially white when the team name and logo were unveiled, but was later changed to dark blue. The uniform design consists of red trim and either Navy blue or white jerseys. The team wears white pants with its blue jerseys, blue pants with its white jerseys. Starting with the 2006 season, the Texans wear all-white for their home opener and the team began to wear an all-blue combination for home games vs. the Indianapolis Colts. In 2003, the Texans introduced an alternative red jersey (most of the time worn in divisional games against the Jacksonville Jaguars) with blue trim. In 2007 the Texans introduced red pants for the first time, pairing them with the red jerseys for an all-red look. In October 2008 the Texans paired blue socks (instead of the traditional red) with their blue pants and white jerseys.
In 2002 the team wore a patch commemorating their inaugural season.
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Inaugural Season Patch
(2002) -
Expansion Draft Logo
(2002) -
Secondary Logo
(2006–present)
Mascots and cheerleaders
The team's official mascot is Toro.[2] The team also has a cheerleading squad simply named the Houston Texans Cheerleaders.[3]
Statistics
Win-loss record
As of the end of the 2011 season, the Texans' overall regular season win-loss record is 65-95 (.406). They are 1-1 (.500) all-time in playoff games. The Texans posted their best-ever season record in 2011 finishing at 10-6. The team's worst-ever season record was 2-14 in 2005.
The Texans participated in the playoffs for the first and only time at the end of the 2011 season, after having clinched the South Division title and qualifying as the AFC's third seed. In the Wildcard Round they hosted a playoff game for the first time, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 31-10. The following weekend they were defeated 20-13 by the Baltimore Ravens, in Baltimore, in the Divisional Round.
Notable records vs opponents
As members of the AFC South, the Texans play six of their sixteen games each season against other AFC South teams. The Texans have struggled in their own division, going 20-40 (.333) against these three teams. They have lifetime records of 3-17 against the Indianapolis Colts, 6-14 against the Tennessee Titans and 11-9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans have fared better against the rest of the AFC, posting a record of 27-33 (.450) against AFC opponents from outside the South division. The Texans are 18-22 (.450) against the NFC.
As of the end of the 2011 season, there are two teams against which the Texans have never lost. They are the Chicago Bears (2-0) and Miami Dolphins (6-0). There are also five teams which the Texans have never beaten. They are the Baltimore Ravens (0-5 in regular season, 0-1 in playoffs), Minnesota Vikings (0-2), New York Jets (0-5), Philadelphia Eagles (0-3) and San Diego Chargers (0-4).
In 2012, of the teams they are unbeaten or winless against, the Texans are scheduled to play against Baltimore, Chicago, Miami, Minnesota, and the New York Jets.
NFL playoffs record
Players of note
Current roster
NFL Draft history
First-round draft picks by year
= Pro Bowler |
* Asterisk indicates a player who was selected to the Pro Bowl only as a member of another team.
Year | Pick | Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | 1st overall | David Carr | Quarterback | Fresno State |
2003 | 3rd overall | Andre Johnson | Wide receiver | Miami (FL) |
2004 | 10th overall | Dunta Robinson | Cornerback | South Carolina |
2004 | 27th overall (from Tennessee) | Jason Babin* | Defensive end | Western Michigan |
2005 | 16th overall (from New Orleans) | Travis Johnson | Defensive tackle | Florida State |
2006 | 1st overall | Mario Williams | Defensive end | North Carolina State |
2007 | 10th overall (from Atlanta) | Amobi Okoye | Defensive tackle | Louisville |
2008 | 26th overall (from Baltimore) | Duane Brown | Offensive tackle | Virginia Tech |
2009 | 15th overall | Brian Cushing | Linebacker | Southern California |
2010 | 20th overall | Kareem Jackson | Cornerback | Alabama |
2011 | 11th overall | J.J. Watt | Defensive end | Wisconsin |
2012 | 26th overall | Whitney Mercilus | Defensive end | Illinois |
Awards and honors
Coaches of note
Head coaches
Name | From | To | Seasons | Record | Division Title | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | |||||
Dom Capers | January 21, 2001 | January 2, 2006 | 4 | 18 | 46 | 0 | 0 |
Gary Kubiak | January 26, 2006 | Present | 6 | 47 | 49 | 0 | 1 |
Offensive coordinators
- Chris Palmer (2002–2005)
- Troy Calhoun (2006)
- Mike Sherman (2007)
- Kyle Shanahan (2008–2009)
- Rick Dennison (2010–Present)
Defensive coordinators
- Vic Fangio (2002–2005)
- Richard Smith (2006–2008)
- Frank Bush (2009–2010)
- Wade Phillips (2011–present)
Current staff
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Traditions
- Battle Red Day – On Battle Red Day the team wears the red alternate jerseys and fans are encouraged to wear red to the game. Starting in 2007 and including 2008, this included the Texans wearing red pants along with the red jerseys.
- Bull Pen – The sections behind the north end zone of Reliant Stadium are known as the Bull Pen. Some of the most avid Texans fans attend games in the Bull Pen and regular members have helped create and implement fan traditions, songs and chants.
- Bull Pen Pep Band – 45-member musical group that performs at all Houston Texans home games.
- Pre-Kickoff Tradition – Before each kickoff at a home game, the Texans will run a short clip of a raging bull thrashing the opponent of the week. The video is paired with the AC/DC song "Thunderstruck"
- Player Introduction – When the players are introduced before the game, the announcer says the player's first name and the crowd yells out the last name. EX: The announcer will say "Linebacker Brian....." and the crowd will yell out "PUSSY!!!"
Radio and television
As of 2007[update], the Texans' flagship radio stations were KILT SportsRadio 610AM and KILT 100.3FM. The AM station has an all-sports format, while the FM station plays contemporary country music. Both are owned by CBS Radio. Marc Vandermeer is the play-by-play announcer. Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware provides color commentary, and SportsRadio 610 host Rich Lord serves as the sideline reporter. Preseason games are telecast by KTRK, an ABC owned and operated station. Joel Meyers calls the preseason games on TV, with former Oilers running back Spencer Tillman providing color commentary.
Spanish-language radio broadcasts of the team's games are aired on KLAT La Tremenda 1010AM.
Radio affiliates
City | Call Sign | Frenquency |
---|---|---|
Alpine, Texas | KVLF-AM | 1240 AM |
Athens, Texas | KLVQ-AM | 1410 AM |
Austin, Texas | KVET-AM | 1300 AM |
Big Spring, Texas | KBYG-AM | 1400 AM |
Brenham, Texas | KWHI-AM | 1280 AM |
Carthage, Texas | KGAS-AM | 1590 AM |
Carthage, Texas | KGAS-FM | 104.3 FM |
College Station, Texas | KZNE-AM | 1150 AM |
Corpus Christi, Texas | KSIX-AM | 1230 AM |
Henderson, Texas | KWRD-AM | 1470 AM |
Houston, Texas | KILT-AM | 610 AM |
Houston, Texas | KILT-FM | 100.3 FM |
Liberty, Texas | KSHN-FM | 99.9 FM |
Livingston, Texas | KETX-FM | 92.3 FM |
Lufkin, Texas | KSML-AM | 1260 AM |
Marshall, Texas | KMHT-AM | 1450 AM |
Marshall, Texas | KMHT-FM | 103.9 FM |
New Braunfels, Texas | KGNB-AM | 1420 AM |
Orange, Texas | KOGT-AM | 1600 AM |
San Angelo, Texas | KKSA-AM | 1260 AM |
San Antonio, Texas | KZDC-AM | 1250 AM |
Texarkana, Texas | KTFS | 940 AM |
Temple, Texas | KTEM-AM | 1400 AM |
Wichita Falls, Texas | KSEY-AM | 1230 AM |
Theme music
The theme song of the Texans is "It's Football Time In Houston" by Clay Walker.[4] The Texans tried to introduce a new fight song in 2003 written by Chad Kroeger from Nickelback, but quickly returned to the original after a negative reception by fans. The song was donated by Walker to the City of Houston.[5]
The Texans have also been know to use "Bulls On Parade" by Rage Against The Machine, which has led to the nickname for the Texans defense "Bulls On Parade".[6]
Work in the community
The Houston Texans organization is a supporter of the character education program, Heart of a Champion.[7]
Notes and references
- ^ Houston Texans History
- ^ http://www.houstontexans.com/kids/toro.asp
- ^ "Texans Cheerleaders". HoustonTexans.com. Retrieved 2012-09-03.
- ^ "Texans May Go Back to Clay Walker Song". Associated Press. 14 August 2003. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
- ^ "20 Questions with Clay Walker (Part 2)". CMT. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
- ^ Balke, Jeff. "Bulls on Parade: Ten Songs for Ten Texans Players and One for the Team".
- ^ "Our Partners". Heart of a Champion. Retrieved 8 January 2012.