The death of Bob McNair — like the deaths of Paul Allen and Tom Benson — has created a new reality in NFL ownership circles. Women in football have become a huge headline this offseason. The Houston Texans, like Allen's Seattle Seahawks and Benson's New Orleans Saints — are one of a few NFL teams with a female owner after the death of a male owner.

The Texans were formed in 1999 as the 32nd team in the NFL. The team was going to be owned by a true Southerner named Bob McNair.

The Texans joined the NFL in 2002 with McNair running the team. McNair was the owner of the Texans until 2018, when he passed away on November 23.

After the longtime owner passed away, the team was handed to his wife, Janice McNair. Janice talked to the Houston Chronicle about how the family had to adjust to own the team after Bob McNair passed away.

Since assuming the role of owner, Janice has become more involved within the organization. This became true when she attended the recent NFL owner's meetings in Arizona.

Janice became the 10th woman to become the owner of an NFL team. McNair stated how elated she is that women have a chance to succeed in NFL front offices.

“I love to see women succeed, and I think it’s part of our world today,” McNair said about more women overseeing NFL teams than any time in history. “I think it’s a wonderful trajectory. Women are showing they can do more than ever.”

This movement of more women into NFL ownership positions comes after Bruce Arians hired two women to become full-time coaches on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' staff. The Bucs hired Lori Locust and Maral Javadifar to be assistant coaches with the franchise.

It's good to see women getting an opportunity to run NFL franchises and continuing to get chances to coach as well. Janice McNair — taking the baton from Bob McNair — is one of a few female owners who continue to adjust to the NFL in order to improve as an owner, and to set an example others might follow.