Lawsuit Unleashed: Buzbee Alleges NFL Colluded to Oust McNair from Texans Family Businesses

In a stunning development that has sent ripples through the NFL landscape, attorney Tony Buzbee has unleashed a lawsuit against the NFL and Cal McNair, principal owner of the Houston Texans.

The suit, filed in New York Supreme Court, accuses the league and McNair of conspiring to oust Cary McNair—Cal’s older brother—from significant roles within the family’s business and the Texans’ trust board.

Buzbee is seeking over $100 million in damages, claiming that this internal power struggle is more than just a family feud; it’s a fight for accountability and transparency within the NFL itself.

The lawsuit stems from years of internal discord within the McNair family, particularly surrounding Cary McNair, 66.

In March 2024, Cary was reportedly stripped of his leadership roles within McNair Interests, the family’s investment vehicle, and removed from the Texans’ trust board.

This drastic move coincided with Cary’s vocal criticism of how the Texans organization handled serious scandals, including the allegations against former quarterback Deshaun Watson and accusations against minority owner Javier Loya.

Buzbee’s complaint highlights that Cary lost more than $60 million due to his ousting, prompting him to seek legal recourse after initial attempts at mediation with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell were ignored.

Central to the lawsuit is the claim of tortious interference, alleging that the NFL knowingly disrupted Cary’s contractual and business rights.

The complaint asserts that once Cary began to question internal decisions and the management of scandals, the league and Cal McNair collaborated to restructure the family trust, effectively sidelining Cary from any influence over franchise matters.

Buzbee frames the lawsuit as a battle for accountability, stating that the NFL and Texans aimed to “silence” Cary and prevent him from asking critical questions about player scandals that could implicate the league and its personnel.

This isn’t the first instance of public conflict within the McNair family.

In late 2023, Cary filed a petition in Harris County Probate Court to have his mother, Janice McNair, declared incapacitated, which would have granted him greater control over family assets.

However, that petition was dropped early in 2024, only for Janice to subsequently transfer majority ownership of the Texans to Cal.

Around the same time, Cary’s roles in other family business interests were terminated, raising eyebrows and concerns about the underlying motivations for these changes.

Legal experts note that while Cary has historically not been a prominent figure in Texans operations, he wielded influence in McNair Interests and family business strategies.

His removal, coupled with the perceived lack of due process, has now become a flashpoint in this ongoing saga.

Buzbee’s lawsuit is a bold maneuver that could expose the inner workings of the NFL and its governance conflicts.

If successful, it could lead to a significant restructuring of the internal dynamics within the Texans’ ownership and reveal how the league interacts with its franchises on a familial level.

For the NFL, this lawsuit poses a risk of heightened scrutiny regarding its involvement in franchise family affairs.

Critics may argue that such disputes should remain private, but Buzbee’s filing indicates a desire to bring these issues into the public eye, especially given the high-profile nature of the scandals involved.

As this case unfolds, several key factors will be closely monitored:

NFL Response: How the league chooses to respond—whether through mediation, settlement, or litigation—remains uncertain.
Cal McNair’s Position: The pressure on Cal McNair may intensify if the suit progresses, potentially impacting his leadership.
Proof of Conspiracy: Cary McNair must provide compelling evidence of collusion to succeed in his claims, not merely demonstrate business changes.
Impact on Texans’ Image: The lawsuit could have significant ramifications for the Texans’ reputation among fans, sponsors, and the league as a whole.

Ultimately, this legal battle transcends a mere family dispute; it tests the very foundations of power, governance, and accountability at the intersection of sports, business, and law.

As the drama unfolds, the implications for the McNair family, the Texans, and the NFL could be profound, reshaping the narrative around one of the league’s most scrutinized franchises.

With the stakes higher than ever, the world will be watching to see how this saga plays out in the coming months.