Q 01/05

In which season did the Houston Texans begin play, making them the NFL's youngest franchise?

A) 2002

B) 2004

C) 2006

D) 2008

Answer · why

A) 2002

The league awarded Houston the 32nd franchise in October 1999; the team was founded that year but did not kick off until 2002.

Q 02/05

The Texans replaced which previous Houston NFL franchise, which had left for Nashville?

A) The Colts

B) The Oilers

C) The Rangers

D) The Roughnecks

Answer · why

B) The Oilers

That team played in Houston from 1960 to 1996 before becoming the Tennessee Titans; the Adams family kept the rights to the old name.

Q 03/05

Who founded the Texans and owned the team until his death in 2018?

A) Bud Adams

B) Jerry Jones

C) Bob McNair

D) Steve Patterson

Answer · why

C) Bob McNair

He made his fortune selling the cogeneration company Cogen Technologies to Enron in 1999, after a failed bid to bring an NHL team to Houston.

Q 04/05

How much did the NFL charge for the expansion franchise awarded to Houston on October 6, 1999?

A) $400 million

B) $1 billion

C) $250 million

D) $700 million

Answer · why

D) $700 million

Houston beat out Toronto and Los Angeles, which had lost both the Rams and the Raiders in 1995.

Q 05/05

Which team did the Texans beat in their inaugural regular-season game?

A) Tennessee Titans

B) Dallas Cowboys

C) Indianapolis Colts

D) Jacksonville Jaguars

Answer · why

B) Dallas Cowboys

It made them the first expansion team to win its opener since the 1961 Vikings beat the Bears; they finished the year 4–12.