Robert C. McNair (January 1, 1937 – November 23, 2018) was an American businessman, philanthropist, and the founding owner of the National Football League's Houston Texans.

In June 2000, McNair formed a biotechnology investment firm, Cogene Biotech Ventures, where he served as company chairman.

[1] He was rumored to be interested in buying a soccer club in the United Kingdom, and twice went to visit St Andrews, home of Championship team, Birmingham City F.C., who were up for sale at the time.

[12] Robert McNair was a member of the Texas Business Hall of Fame and was a current or past member of the boards of trustees of a number of institutions, including Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Grand Opera, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Center for the American Idea,[13] and other Houston area organizations.

On September 12, 2007, McNair gave $100 million to Baylor College of Medicine to recruit top scientists and physicians.

The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, established in 2015, provides gifts to create centers for entrepreneurship at universities throughout the United States.

The goal of the foundation was to remove some of the financial barriers that were preventing Rutherford County High school graduates from attending college.

According to one tally, McNair was Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's largest donor from the period from January 1, 2009, to September 30, 2015, contributing $1,502,500.

[22] Their son Cal McNair became president and CEO, and served as operating head of the franchise[23] until Janice transferred principal ownership of the team to him in 2024.