HISTORY LESSON: A FRANCHISE’S UPS AND DOWNS
Entering their 20th season, the Texans have had a star-crossed history. Here’s a look at some of their notable moments:
1999
Oct. 6: In a surprise, Houston beats out Los Angeles to be the NFL’s 32nd team, with local businessman Bob McNair paying a record $700 million for an expansion franchise.
2000
Jan. 19: Former Washington general manager Charley Casserly is hired as the first executive vice president/GM of the new Houston franchise.
Sept. 7: McNair announces the new team will be called the Texans, beating out Stallions and Apollos.
2001
Jan. 19: Former Carolina coach Dom Capers is hired as the Texans’ first head coach.
2002
Feb. 18: The Texans get their first players, selecting 19 in the NFL expansion draft. The most notable, Jacksonville tackle Tony Boselli, never plays for them because of an injury.
April 20: Fresno State QB David Carr is picked No. 1 overall in the NFL draft by the Texans, who pass on North Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers. Carr would take a beating as a rookie, getting sacked an NFL-record 76 times.
July 20: The Texans begin their first training camp.
Sept. 8: In a nationally televised shocker, the Texans beat the Cowboys 19-10 to become the first NFL expansion team to win its first
game since the 1961 Vikings. It’s the highlight of a 4-12 season.
Dec. 29: The Texans end their first season with a 13-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the franchise formerly known as the Houston Oilers.
2003
April 26: With the third pick in the draft, the Texans take Miami receiver Andre Johnson, who quickly becomes the franchise’s first big star.
Sept. 7: For the second consecutive season, the Texans begin their season with a win, beating the Dolphins 21-20 in Miami on Kris Brown’s 35-yard field goal with 25 seconds left. Otherwise, it’s another rough year with a 5-11 record.
2005
April 23: With Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers, once a favorite to be taken first overall, tumbling down the draft board, the Texans instead take Florida State defensive tackle Travis Johnson with the 16th pick.
2006
Jan. 2: After finishing with an NFL-worst 2-14 record, the Texans fire Capers but opt to keep Casserly.
Jan. 22: McNair says the Texans will hire Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, a Houston native, as head coach.
April 29: The Texans take North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams instead of USC’s Heisman
Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush or Texas star quarterback Vince Young, a Houston native, with the first pick in the NFL draft. May 10: Casserly resigns as Texans GM to pursue a job at the NFL office. McNair and Casserly insist it’s not a firing.
June 5: The Texans introduce Broncos assistant GM Rick Smith, a longtime colleague of Kubiak’s, as their new general manager. At 36, he’s the youngest GM in the NFL.
2007
Jan. 3: Linebacker DeMeco Ryans is voted NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in a landslide vote after recording 156 tackles, the most for a rookie in two decades.
March 21: The Texans trade for Falcons backup QB Matt Schaub and sign him to a six-year, $48 million contract to be their new starter.
March 23: The Texans release Carr and running back Domanick Williams, two staples of the team’s early years.
2008
Sept. 14: Hurricane Ike forces the Texans to take their open date in Week 2, and they play their first three games on the road en route to an 0-4 start. They finish 8-8 for the second consecutive year.
2010
Jan. 3: A 34-27 home win over the Patriots gives the Texans their first winning record at 9-7. Schaub leads the NFL with 4,770 passing yards.
Jan. 5: Linebacker Brian Cushing easily wins NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
May 8: Cushing is suspended four games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Sept. 12: Former undrafted free agent Arian Foster rushes for a franchise-record 231 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-24 season-opening win over the Colts. Sept. 21: Starting left tackle Duane Brown is suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Brown claims he “unknowingly” took the substance and doesn’t appeal.
Nov. 28: In a wild scene at NRG Stadium, the normally mild-mannered Andre Johnson gets into a fight with Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan, with the two pulling each other’s helmets off before Johnson lands a couple shots to Finnegan’s face. Both are ejected from the Texans’ 20-0 win.
2011
Jan. 3: Despite missing the playoffs five straight years, the Texans keep Kubiak but fire four assistants, including defensive coordinator Frank Bush.
Jan. 5: Veteran assistant Wade Phillips, son of legendary Oilers coach Bum Phillips, is hired as defensive coordinator.
April 28: Making one of the best draft picks in franchise history, the Texans take Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt with the 11th overall selection.
Dec. 11: Despite losing Schaub to a
season-ending injury and behind a vastly improved defense, the Texans clinch their first playoff berth in season No. 10, winning 20-19 in Cincinnati to clinch the AFC South title.
2012
Jan. 7: Watt’s electrifying interception return for a touchdown jumpstarts a 31-10 victory over the Bengals at NRG Stadium in the first playoff game in Texans history. Jan. 15: The Texans’ first postseason run ends amid miscues with a 20-13 loss at Baltimore in the AFC divisional round.
Oct. 14: The 5-0 Texans play on Sunday Night Football for the first time but get shredded for six TD passes by Aaron Rodgers in a 42-24 home loss to Green Bay. Dec. 10: The 11-1 Texans infamously wear letterman jackets to a Monday night game in New England and get blown out 42-14. It starts a tailspin of three losses in their final four games that costs them homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
2013
Jan. 13: After beating Cincinnati again in a wild-card game, the Texans end their season with a 41-28 divisional-round loss at New England.
Feb. 2: J.J. Watt is voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the first time. He wins the award three times in a four-season span, matching Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor for the most Defensive Player of the Year awards.