HOUSTON — When the Houston Texans showed off their new uniforms this week, there was no mistaking a familiar shade of blue in the Color Rush jersey and helmet.
The lighter shade in the H logo stirred up memories of the Columbia blue worn by the beloved Houston Oilers back in the day. A lot of fans still haven't forgiven late Oilers owner Bud Adams for moving the team to Tennessee in the 90s. He changed the name to the Tennessee Titans, now one of the Texans' rivals in the AFC South.
Last season, the Titans rubbed a little salt in the decades-old wound by wearing Oilers throwbacks in a home game against the Texans. They even had the Columbia blue oil derrick painted at midfield and on their helmets.
Hannah McNair, wife of owner Cal McNair and Vice President of the Texans Foundation, was asked this week by 610 Sports Radio about Titans fans saying she's still "salty" about the throwbacks.
“Who started that? Who started it, wearing it against us and then if anybody was at that game, their in-house PA was instigating it. It was unbelievable, but also wonderful because we finished the story," Hannah said.
By "finished the story," McNair was referring to the Texans 19-16 win over the Titans. They got the last laugh again on New Year's Eve in a win over the Titans at NRG Stadium.
When asked if Tennessee is Houston's top rival, Hannah didn't miss a beat.
"Well, first they need to beat us," she replied as her husband grinned and covered his eyes.
The couple said they originally planned to feature the "H-Town blue" shade more prominently but had to compromise because of league politics.
In a recent interview with KHOU 11's Jason Bristol, Cal said he welcomes his wife's input and they make a good team.
"It's very constructive and helpful and she's wonderful so I'm glad she's with me all the way, every minute," he said.
Texans Color Rush uniform
The Color Rush city-inspired uniform introduces H-Town Blue as the first new color introduced to the Texans brand in team history. The Texans are also the first team in NFL history to introduce a new logo on an alternate helmet and a two-logo system across all helmets.
Texans home uniform
The home uniform is classic, featuring the updated Deep Steel Blue color that matches the original Deep Steel Blue unveiled in 2000, along with a H-Town call out on the inside collar.
The home helmet is Deep Steel Blue with blue-on-blue metallic flake paint. It includes the traditional bull logo on the sides with the new H secondary logo on the back.
Texans away uniform
The away Liberty White uniform is traditional with a modern edge, featuring the traditional sleeve stripe on the back and sides of the jersey that transforms into a bullhorn-inspired design from the front.
Texans alternate uniform
The alternate uniform is the bold Battle Red version of the away jersey. The alternate helmet is Battle Red with candy paint red flakes, a red metallic chrome facemask, a new bullhorn-inspired helmet logo application, and the Texans bullhead logo on the back.
J.J. Watt apparently likes this one. He posted "Candy Paint will always crush in the H" on X.
