Texans, Cal, Hannah McNair celebrate Founder’s Day, give $20,000 donation to Stephen F. Austin HS football team

HOUSTON – When the Stephen F. Austin High School football team walked into their gymnasium Tuesday morning, they thought it was for a senior showcase.

Instead, they were delightfully surprised to learn that they were receiving a $20,000 donation from Houston Texans’ principal owner and CEO Cal McNair, foundation vice president Hannah McNair, players Azeez Al-Shaair, Jon Weeks, Eric Murray and J.J. Taylor along with Toro and cheerleaders.

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Celebrating their annual Founder’s Day, a day dedicated to the memory of the late owner and franchise founder Bob McNair, the Texans gave back in the community as part of a new Grow the Game initiative. Bob McNair died in 2018 after a long battle with cancer, and that’s when the Texans decided to designate Oct. 6 as Founder’s Day. That’s also the date the Texans were awarded an expansion franchise.

“It’s wonderful to be able to reach out in the community and, hopefully, do a little good,” Cal McNair said. “I think they’re going to get some new helmets as well, so they can stay protected and enjoy this great game that we enjoy so much. I’m just happy to be out here on Founder’s Day and share that.

“Oct. 6 is when he was awarded the team. In 2018 when he passed, we tried to figure out a way to honor him. And, so, the Founder’s Day was the way we wanted to do that annually, and so we’ve been doing it since then. And he was passionate about giving back to the community. So, I think he would really enjoy this.”

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Like Bob McNair, Texans co-founder Janice McNair, his widow and Cal’s mother, is heavily devoted to the community.

“This also continues to honor Janice’s commitment to the community,” Hannah McNair said. “She’s been wonderful. She’s been right there with him giving back to this community. And it’s very important to our family and to this organization to continue to do that. And she wishes she could be here today, but she’s so excited about what we’re doing today.”

The initiative, intended to benefit underserved programs with funding, will help the Mustangs repair their locker room air conditioner and purchase new equipment and practice jerseys.

“It’s wonderful to be able to do this, but especially to help the underserved programs and help them be able to protect themselves, get the right equipment, help the programs grow,” Hannah McNair said. “It’s important to us.”

Al-Shaair grew up homeless in Tampa, overcoming hardships and earning a scholarship to Florida Atlantic University. After going undrafted, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers and joined the Texans as a free agent this offseason to reunite with coach DeMeco Ryans.

“There are so many of our players that have come from programs probably just like this,” Hannah McNair said. “And, for them, it’s personal and it’s wonderful. They’re also representing the organization. It’s near and dear to their hearts.”

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Added Cal McNair: ‘It shows the opportunity you can have through football, through school and reaching terrific levels that Azeez has done. We’re really proud of them. Hopefully, the guys see that and are inspired.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com