Bob McNair’s name remains synonymous with the Houston Texans, the NFL franchise he founded in 1999 and led until his death in 2018. After decades of building both the team and a sprawling family business empire, ownership transitioned to his wife, Janice, and later to their son, Cal, who officially took control of the team in 2024.
Now, another branch of the McNair family is bringing turmoil to the surface. Robert “Cary” McNair, Bob’s other son, has filed a $60 million lawsuit against the National Football League, alleging the league interfered with his role in the family’s business operations — and ultimately worked to push him out.
According to a complaint filed by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee in New York Supreme Court and obtained by USA TODAY Sports, Cary McNair accuses the NFL of “tortious interference with contract” and “calculated efforts” to sideline him from McNair family entities.
The lawsuit claims that when Cary began raising concerns about “player scandals that potentially implicated the NFL, its personnel, and its decision-making process,” the league allegedly maneuvered to remove him from influence within the family’s business structure.
Specifically, the suit alleges that the NFL encouraged a restructuring of the McNair family trust and business holdings to favor Cary’s brother, Cal, described as a “more pliable” representative in league dealings.
“In short,” the filing states, “through the calculated interference of the NFL, [Cary] was cut out of any meaningful role with McNair-associated entities so that, among other things, [Cary] could exercise no influence over NFL-related matters.”
Buzbee, the attorney representing Cary, said the case presents a “clear and overwhelming” picture of the NFL’s interference. “The evidence will show that the NFL intervened in the McNair family business to remove Cary McNair from his position as CEO, in an effort to silence him,” Buzbee said in a statement. “He won’t be silenced.”
The dispute extends beyond family conflict. For advisors and wealth managers familiar with multi-generational ownership structures, the McNair case underscores the complex intersection of succession planning, governance, and external influence — especially when a family’s fortune is intertwined with a high-profile sports franchise.
The Origins of a Power Struggle
Bob McNair was known for his disciplined approach to both football and business. He built a diversified empire that included energy, real estate, and philanthropy — all underpinned by his founding vision for the Texans.
When he passed away in 2018, the transition of leadership was always going to be delicate. His widow, Janice, initially stepped into ownership but began transferring responsibilities to their sons as she aged. Cal emerged as the public face of the Texans, while Cary managed parts of the family’s corporate interests.
According to Cary’s lawsuit, that balance unraveled when he began questioning the NFL’s handling of several player misconduct controversies — most notably the Deshaun Watson case, which had already placed the Texans and the league under intense public scrutiny.
In a letter dated September 8, 2024, obtained by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Buzbee alleged that the NFL “had no issues with Cary McNair until he started asking pointed questions that potentially implicated the NFL and its personnel.”
The letter, sent directly to the league, stated that Cary “spoke out about the Deshaun Watson scandal and questioned the Texans’ handling of it,” as well as the team’s decision to pay settlements in roughly 30 civil cases “without any investigation or putting up a fight at all.”
Buzbee himself represented more than two dozen women who filed civil lawsuits against Watson, amplifying the overlap between his prior cases and his current client’s claims.
A Dispute Beyond the Gridiron
The lawsuit suggests that the fallout extended beyond questions of public relations or damage control. Cary claims that the NFL’s alleged interference directly led to his removal from key leadership roles in McNair Management, the private entity overseeing much of the family’s business wealth.
The case’s central argument hinges on fiduciary disruption — that the league’s behind-the-scenes actions effectively restructured how the McNair family business operates, altering trust governance and cutting Cary off from decision-making authority.
For financial professionals who work with multi-generational family enterprises, the situation is a cautionary tale about the fragility of governance when outside institutions wield influence. Even in privately held entities, the ripple effects of reputation management — especially in sectors like sports and entertainment — can challenge family control and legacy planning.
According to the complaint, the NFL allegedly coordinated with certain advisors and internal stakeholders to facilitate a reorganization that strengthened Cal’s authority as the “owner’s representative.” That move, Cary argues, was meant to ensure continued compliance and silence dissent regarding league operations.
The case underscores a key risk area for families with concentrated assets in regulated or reputation-sensitive industries: the possibility that external relationships can reshape internal governance without explicit consent from all stakeholders.
The Legal Path Forward
Following the September 8 letter to the NFL demanding resolution, Buzbee wrote that his client would “proceed in court, not league arbitration,” if the matter wasn’t settled. The letter, addressed to senior league officials, framed the issue not as an internal family squabble but as an act of corporate interference.
When no response came from the NFL, Cary and Buzbee filed suit, naming the league as a defendant rather than pursuing arbitration through NFL channels — a move signaling that they expect a long and public court battle.
For advisors familiar with high-net-worth family structures, that choice carries strategic implications. Court proceedings open financial records, governance documents, and internal communications to discovery. The potential exposure of family operations could complicate estate management and future ownership transitions.
The lawsuit also follows an earlier legal episode in which Cary sought to have his mother, Janice, declared incapacitated — a case that was ultimately withdrawn in February 2024. Within weeks of that dismissal, Cal was formally named the Texans’ principal owner, consolidating control that Cary now contends was achieved through undue influence.
Implications for Family Governance and Succession
The McNair case spotlights recurring challenges for family offices and legacy enterprises: succession timing, trust governance, and control disputes among siblings with divergent visions.
For many RIAs advising ultra-high-net-worth clients, these are familiar fault lines. Family businesses that lack a clear, independent governance structure often struggle when one heir assumes control without broad consensus. When external entities — in this case, the NFL — exert influence or appear to favor one successor over another, disputes can escalate quickly from private negotiations to public litigation.
Wealth advisors often emphasize three principles to mitigate such risks:
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Independent Oversight: Establishing an outside trustee or governance board to manage conflicts of interest within trusts and operating entities.
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Transparent Communication: Ensuring that all heirs and stakeholders are informed about ownership transitions, especially when control of major assets like professional franchises shifts.
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Legal Safeguards: Structuring family business agreements to limit external influence over appointments, governance, or asset management decisions.
In the McNair situation, Cary’s allegations — if substantiated — suggest those safeguards may not have been fully in place, allowing for outside influence during a sensitive leadership transition.
The Broader Context
The NFL, one of the most powerful and commercially valuable leagues in the world, has faced increasing scrutiny over its internal handling of player misconduct and organizational governance. Cary’s questioning of the Watson cases touches a nerve at the league level, where image management often takes precedence over transparency.
For investors and advisors watching from the sidelines, the lawsuit also illustrates how high-profile family enterprises can become entangled in reputational and operational risks far beyond their own making. When a family’s wealth platform intersects with a billion-dollar sports organization, conflicts between public image and private control can become existential.
If Cary’s lawsuit succeeds, it could set a precedent for how the league interacts with team ownership groups in matters involving internal family disputes. It could also embolden other minority stakeholders or family members across professional sports to challenge governance decisions made in collaboration with league officials.
Looking Ahead
At its core, the McNair lawsuit is about power — who holds it, who influences it, and who decides when to silence dissent. But for wealth advisors and RIAs, it also highlights the importance of proactive succession planning, especially when family wealth and public institutions are intertwined.
The case remains in its early stages, and the NFL has not yet filed a formal response. Still, as legal discovery unfolds, new details about the McNair family’s internal governance and its dealings with the league could emerge — providing a rare window into the complex relationship between professional sports ownership, estate management, and institutional power.
Whether or not Cary McNair prevails, the case underscores a universal challenge for wealthy families: maintaining unity and control across generations, even as external forces test the boundaries of private governance.
For advisors, the lesson is clear. Legacy wealth is about more than inheritance — it’s about structure, stewardship, and the ability to withstand pressure when outside interests intersect with family enterprise.
