Hannah McNair, the wife of Texans owner Cal McNair, made a promise to the team and its fans this week.
“We want to win now," she exclaimed in a recent interview with KPRC2’s Sports Director Randy McIlvoy. That idea of winning now is a far cry from the days of celebrating AFC South banners, trying hard but losing in the playoffs.
Here's Cal and Hannah McNair on #Texans
— Randy McIlvoy (@KPRC2RandyMc) April 11, 2024
on expectations.
Cal: " We embrace the expectations, it's where we want to be. At same time it's about building the team, working hard, it's the day to day things that will get us where we want to get to.
Hannah: "We want to win now!" pic.twitter.com/Grxabtw5iH
It’s a complete 180-degree turn from a franchise that was the laughingstock of the NFL just a couple of years ago. The Texans were covered in drama from the "inmates running the prison" comments from the former owner, the late Bob McNair, to the Bill O’Brien-Jack Easterby drama saga to the DeAndre Hopkins trade and the Deshaun Watson allegations and ultimate exit.
There’s no reason to delve into the details and rehash it all as the franchise from the top down has finally committed to change its core. The arrival of general manager Nick Caserio in 2021 was the beginning, but one man can’t change an identity alone.
Here's how the Texans went from the doldrums of the NFL to one of the most-hyped teams in 2024.
Texans head coach firings
As Caserio took over the reins of running the day-to-day of building the roster, front office and talent acquisition, Cal and Hannah McNair worked on changing the identity of who the Texans were as an organization. Internal housecleaning began as they looked to stop the leaks and backstabbing that ran counterproductive to their desire for change.
The hiring and firing of David Culley and Lovie Smith as back-to-back one-year head coaches came with much scrutiny.
The questions surrounding Culley and Smith, two Black head coaches, getting one year each from a franchise that would hold on to their white coaches through mediocrity were understandable. However, the Texans were the only one of 32 teams to hire Culley for the top coaching position in his 40-plus years of coaching, while Smith was brought on as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator for Culley — a move viewed as a safety net for Culley if he didn’t thrive in his role. As some may have predicted, Smith replaced Culley the next season as head coach but he too was one-and-done.
But if we dive deeper, these one-and-done firings had more to do with Caserio being in charge and wanting to find the right fit long-term and coming from a culture of winning while not willing to accept three- or four-win seasons.
And it led to the hiring of DeMeco Ryans.
The DeMeco Ryans era begins
When the dust settled in Houston, the Texans replaced two coaches who weren’t coveted by many with one of the most coveted coaches on the market. A former NFL linebacker who displayed his character as a player and a coach and one who the Texans drafted with the first pick of the second round, No. 33 overall, back in 2006. It was Ryans, not No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams, who led the defense as a rookie and had the respect of his teammates with the nickname of “Cap," signifying the respect his play and demeanor demanded.
Caserio had his man: A young head coach with the character and personality to relate to and the ability to lead men on the field and in life. He also found a coach who understood and mirrored what Caserio and the rest of the front office were looking to achieve — a Super Bowl. Anything else short of the ultimate goal would be a failure.
To lead the turnaround they needed foundation pieces. The Texans had drafted cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. the year prior with a top-3 pick. Stingley Jr. was the first corner piece with his talent and just needs to maintain his health. However, a cornerback alone can’t change a team.
Houston needed a difference-maker at the quarterback position and an edge player who consistently alters the play of the opposing quarterback. Caserio and Ryans found what they were looking for with two selections in the top three picks of the 2023 NFL draft.
The addition of C.J. Stroud as a young, dynamic player who could perform as a rookie with the best at his position was the fuel to expedite the new course. Will Anderson Jr. was his counterpart that could play on-par with the best in the league at his position in Myles Garrett, not only against the pass but against the run as well.
In free agency Caserio and the front office in unison with Ryans found the key pieces they needed in 2023 to compete. Short-term, low-risk but high-reward moves like tight end Dalton Schultz, running back Devin Singletary and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins were just the right moves to make a quick playoff push in 2023.
Texans go all-in for 2024
A year after going 3-13-1, the Texans rose to 10-7 in 2023. Stroud and Anderson won Rookie of the Year awards and the Texans looked like a much different team than the one that couldn't win over the previous few seasons.
Therefore, Ryans' and Caserio’s expectations with the emergence of Stroud and Anderson Jr. wouldn't necessitate a mediocre return for the coming season. And both knew what it took to build off successful seasons after Caserio's time with the New England Patriots and Ryans' time coaching with the San Francisco 49ers.
Houston became the darlings of the NFL in free agency — a long journey from a few years prior. The Texans signed Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry and traded for Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon. In total, the Texans spent the sixth-most money in free agency. Houstonians, the media and NFL fans alike were shocked. This wasn’t their older brother’s Texans. These are contenders.
'We want to win now'
The excitement and hunger from a city that has survived from feasting on the carcass of moral victories finally had something real to clamor about as excitement abounds in this football city as seen in Hannah McNair’s comments: “Our boys, when they heard the Stefon Diggs news were screaming around the house and then their friends said their teacher stopped class to tell everyone.”
There is a different air around Houston now. The change from one-and-done coaches to AFC South contenders is here, and ownership is completely bought in.
Football has always been king in Texas, now the Texans are giving their fans something to scream about.
