Bob Mcnair Quotes

Powerful Bob Mcnair for Daily Growth

About Bob Mcnair

Robert C. McNair, born on January 16, 1931, in Wiesbaden, Germany, was an American businessman, sports team owner, and philanthropist best known for his profound influence on the National Football League (NFL) as the founder of the Houston Texans. Born to a military family, McNair spent much of his childhood overseas before settling in Longview, Texas, where he attended LeTourneau University. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve during the Korean War and went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. McNair's entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish Cogen Technologies, a company that developed combined heat and power systems, which he sold for $300 million in 1987. This significant financial success allowed him to venture into various business interests, including McNair Interests, L.P., an investment firm with holdings in energy, real estate, sports, and entertainment. In 1992, McNair bought the Houston Oilers of the NFL, moving them to Tennessee in 1997 after failed attempts to build a stadium in Houston. In 1999, he succeeded in his efforts when the NFL awarded him an expansion team, the Houston Texans. Throughout his life, McNair remained dedicated to philanthropy and charitable causes. He established the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, which supports initiatives in education, healthcare, and the arts. McNair passed away on November 23, 2018, leaving a lasting impact on both the NFL and Houston community.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The key to success is to keep the main thing the main thing."

This quote by Bob McNair emphasizes the importance of prioritization and focus in achieving success. The "main thing" refers to the primary objective or goal one aims to accomplish. In other words, it's about staying focused on what truly matters most and not getting sidetracked by lesser concerns or distractions. By consistently keeping the main thing as the top priority, one can increase their chances of achieving long-term success.


"I've always believed that in business, you should focus on the things that are within your control."

This quote emphasizes the importance of focusing one's efforts on aspects that can be directly influenced or controlled. In other words, it suggests a proactive approach to problem-solving by concentrating on elements that are within our power to change, rather than wasting time and resources on factors beyond our control. This principle is applicable in both personal and professional settings as it encourages individuals to maintain a level of self-determination and resilience. By focusing on controllable variables, one can increase their chances of success and achieve more effective outcomes.


"In order to be successful, you have to have a vision and you have to be able to execute it."

This quote by Bob McNair highlights two crucial elements for achieving success: having a clear, definable vision and the ability to effectively carry out that vision. The first part emphasizes the importance of knowing what one wants and having a specific goal or objective in mind. The second part underscores the necessity of putting that vision into action, demonstrating not only the capacity to plan but also the determination and skill to make things happen. In essence, McNair's quote suggests that success is a combination of aspiration and execution.


"Success is not about how much money you make; it's about the difference you make in people's lives."

This quote emphasizes that success isn't merely about accumulating wealth, but rather about positively impacting the lives of others. It suggests that true success lies in making a significant difference in people's lives—be it through acts of kindness, mentorship, innovation, or any action that brings about positive change. The implication is that material wealth, while a potential byproduct of success, should not be the sole measure of it, and that the most fulfilling form of success comes from helping others grow and flourish.


"I believe that if you give people opportunities, they will rise to the occasion."

This quote implies that when individuals are presented with opportunities, they possess an inherent potential to seize those chances and excel beyond expectations. It emphasizes a belief in human capacity for growth and improvement given the right circumstances and chances. This perspective suggests that fostering an environment where people can explore their abilities and talents is essential for unlocking latent potential and promoting personal development.


We concluded that one thing we can do is to just go through the locker room and make sure that if anybody is using anything, it's a product from one of the approved manufacturers.

- Bob McNair

Product, Through, Using, Manufacturers

We want people that fit in our locker room. As I said, it's all about teamwork.

- Bob McNair

People, Want, About, Locker

I'm not a real estate developer. I'm a golfer. I'm a sportsman.

- Bob McNair

Real, Estate, Developer, Sportsman

If a local market is supporting the team strongly, you're not going to have a lot of support for a team leaving that market.

- Bob McNair

Market, Going, Lot, Supporting

If you're going to have a satisfactory standard of living, you're going to have to be competitive in this world. And you can't be competitive if you don't have a good education.

- Bob McNair

Education, Living, Standard, Good Education

If you look around, there are very few really super quarterbacks. There are just very few. If you're lucky enough to have one, lucky enough that one of these Andrew Lucks is available when you have the top pick, then that's just a matter of luck. You can't attribute that to anything else.

- Bob McNair

Luck, Lucky, Very, Andrew

Unfortunately, when we had a No. 1 draft pick, there wasn't an Andrew Luck out there. A lot of that's pure luck.

- Bob McNair

Luck, Had, Unfortunately, Andrew

We protected Andre Johnson, given him long-term contracts. Brian Cushing's got a long-term contract. Arian Foster. So certain key players, core players, we've tried not to tie them up for a long period of time.

- Bob McNair

Andre, Long Period, Johnson, Brian

If a team needs new facilities, and they've been unsuccessful for a long period of time, and the local community is not being responsive, then I think it's a possibility that team might get a vote to relocate.

- Bob McNair

Been, I Think, Long Period, Facilities

Some people said, 'Why didn't you sign Peyton Manning?' Well, we just couldn't do it. We would have had to let go of two or three of our outstanding players to create enough room in the salary cap to do something with him.

- Bob McNair

Why, Some, Sign, Let Go

I worked for twenty-some years with no capital, so I never had any liquidity. Managing my loans alone wouldn't do it, and working hard twenty-four hours a day seven days a week alone wouldn't do it. You have to be properly capitalized.

- Bob McNair

Week, Seven, Capital, Working Hard

At nose tackle, you don't have to run that much.

- Bob McNair

Run, You, Nose, Tackle

I thought I was in a better position to get a team than anyone else in Houston.

- Bob McNair

Thought, Better, Anyone, Houston

The radiation was worse by far. I had bandages all over my head. I looked like a mummy. On the side of my head and neck and down to my collarbone, I had second-degree burns. My skin blistered and peeled before it grew back. That was the worst part of it.

- Bob McNair

Before, Part, Mummy, Radiation

Experience shows that those people who were selected to be a head coach in the NFL met with more success if they had had head-coaching experience.

- Bob McNair

Experience, More, Had, Head Coach

Our players are role models; there's no question about it. Whether they want to be or not. They are. So they're in the spotlight. So if they do something that's wrong, that's in the spotlight, too.

- Bob McNair

Role, No Question, Models, Role Models

We're about winning and accountability.

- Bob McNair

Winning, About, Accountability

As a matter of policy from the beginning with our team, there have been three things we've said we won't draft a player: if they've been involved in domestic violence, drug abuse, or if they show lack of respect for authority.

- Bob McNair

Beginning, Abuse, Been, Draft

Look at Baltimore back in 2000. They had an outstanding defense. They could run the ball, and they had a quarterback that didn't turn it over that much. I think that is a plan that can bring you great success.

- Bob McNair

Think, Over, I Think, Great Success

A quarterback that goes out and performs for you and is a franchise quarterback is more valuable than a player playing another position, but there's a lot more risk there. It's a more difficult position to play, and there are lot more failures.

- Bob McNair

Play, Performs, Franchise, Quarterback

Now, would we like to have that super quarterback? Absolutely. And if we have the opportunity to get that person or develop that person, that's what we'll do.

- Bob McNair

Opportunity, Like, Develop, Quarterback

I'm not ill. I'm healthy. I'm not going anywhere. We've got Super Bowls to win.

- Bob McNair

Healthy, Going, Super, Bowls

I'm not going anywhere. My dad lived to be 102. And we've got Super Bowls to win.

- Bob McNair

Going, Dad, Anywhere, Bowls

The franchise tag is worth something to the team, and you can't be afraid to use it.

- Bob McNair

Afraid, Use, Franchise, Tag

We don't like to acknowledge that we're getting older. None of us do.

- Bob McNair

Like, Acknowledge, Getting, Getting Older

I didn't think I was going to die. I knew some did. I knew there were some rumors.

- Bob McNair

Die, Think, Some, Rumors

If you want to get a good seat at a Texas A&M game or a University of Texas game, it depends on how much money you give the school.

- Bob McNair

Game, Give, Depends, Seat

Every athlete, I think, would like to play forever. They never want to acknowledge that they've lost a step or they can't quite do what they did before.

- Bob McNair

Play, Think, I Think, Acknowledge

I knew I wasn't going to play professional basketball.

- Bob McNair

Play, Going, Knew, Basketball

We can take action with a player without the league taking any action. But all that we can do is, we can deactivate him. But we're limited under the collective bargaining agreement to four games.

- Bob McNair

Agreement, Bargaining, Collective

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