Chairshot NFL News Report (July 15, 2026): Janice McNair Dies, Seahawks Sale Vote Set and Baker Mayfield Details Injuries

Texans co-founder Janice McNair dies at 89, the NFL schedules a vote on the Seahawks’ sale, Baker Mayfield reveals significant injuries and more.

The Houston Texans are mourning the death of franchise co-founder and senior chair Janice McNair, who died Tuesday at 89.

Elsewhere, NFL owners have set a date to vote on the record-setting sale of the Seattle Seahawks, Baker Mayfield revealed the extent of the injuries he played through last season, and a Cowboys pass rusher received a three-game suspension.

Texans Co-Founder Janice McNair Dies at 89

Janice McNair, who helped bring NFL football back to Houston alongside her late husband Bob McNair, died Tuesday of natural causes. She was 89.

The McNairs founded the Texans after Houston lost the Oilers to Tennessee. The franchise was awarded in 1999 and began play in 2002. After Bob McNair’s death in 2018, Janice became the team’s principal owner before transferring that role to their son Cal McNair in 2024.

McNair was inducted into the Texans’ Ring of Honor in 2025. She also helped establish the Houston Texans Foundation, which has raised more than $51 million for the local community.

Cal McNair will continue leading the organization, meaning her death is not expected to change the franchise’s ownership structure or day-to-day operations.

NFL Sets August Vote on Seahawks Sale

NFL owners are expected to vote August 26 during a special meeting in Atlanta on the proposed sale of the Seattle Seahawks to the Khosla family. The transaction must first clear the league’s finance committee before receiving approval from at least 24 of the NFL’s 32 owners.

The family agreed to purchase the defending Super Bowl champions from Paul Allen’s estate for a reported $9.612 billion, which would establish a new record for the sale of an NFL franchise. The deal fulfills Allen’s directive that his assets eventually be sold, with the proceeds used for philanthropic causes.

Vinod Khosla will be required to relinquish his minority interest in the San Francisco 49ers before the transaction can be finalized. The Seahawks are expected to remain in Seattle, where the team’s current Lumen Field lease runs through 2032 and contains three additional 10-year options.

Baker Mayfield Reveals Extent of 2025 Injuries

Baker Mayfield revealed that he played most of the 2025 season with sprains to both the MCL and PCL in his knee after suffering the injury during Week 2.

The Buccaneers quarterback also dealt with a significant contusion to his throwing-arm biceps that affected his velocity, along with a later injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Despite the collection of injuries, Mayfield did not miss a game.

Mayfield and the Buccaneers began last season 6-2 before losing seven of their final nine games and missing the playoffs with an 8-9 record. He threw nine interceptions during that closing nine-game stretch after producing 13 touchdowns and three interceptions over the opening eight weeks.

The revelations provide additional context for the sharp decline in Mayfield’s performance and Tampa Bay’s season. They also arrive while Mayfield enters the final year of his contract without a new extension in place.

George Pickens Reaches Franchise-Tag Deadline

Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET is the deadline for teams to sign franchise-tagged players to multiyear contracts. After the deadline passes, a tagged player can only play for his current team on a one-year agreement during the 2026 season.

George Pickens is the only remaining tagged player without a long-term extension. The Jets previously extended Breece Hall, while the Falcons signed Kyle Pitts to a three-year contract.

Dallas has already indicated that it does not plan to negotiate a multiyear deal with Pickens before the deadline. The wide receiver is therefore expected to play the season on a fully guaranteed franchise tender worth approximately $27.3 million before potentially reaching free agency in 2027.

Pickens has participated in Dallas’ offseason activities and reportedly joined Dak Prescott and several teammates for a pre-training camp gathering, avoiding the contract drama that has frequently surrounded the Cowboys in recent years.

Cowboys’ Charles Snowden Suspended Three Games

Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Charles Snowden has been suspended for the first three games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

The suspension stems from a DUI case dating back to Snowden’s time with the Las Vegas Raiders. He will be permitted to practice and play during the preseason, with the suspension beginning when teams reduce their rosters to 53 players.

Snowden signed with Dallas in June after being released by Las Vegas. He recorded 28 tackles, three sacks and an interception in 15 games for the Raiders last season but was expected to compete for a rotational role rather than enter camp with a guaranteed roster position.

Snowden will miss games against the New York Giants, Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens before becoming eligible to return against the Houston Texans.

James Cook Places Responsibility on Bills

James Cook believes the Buffalo Bills already have everything necessary to finally reach the Super Bowl.

The defending NFL rushing champion said the responsibility for ending Buffalo’s postseason struggles belongs to the players, pointing to a new season, a new stadium and a fresh atmosphere under first-year head coach Joe Brady.

Cook rushed for a league-leading 1,621 yards last season and earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection. Buffalo reached the playoffs for a franchise-record seventh consecutive season but again failed to advance to the Super Bowl, leading to Sean McDermott’s dismissal and Brady’s promotion from offensive coordinator.

The Bills have consistently entered January among the AFC’s strongest teams. Brady’s promotion now places additional pressure on the existing roster to prove that a change in leadership can finally produce a different ending.

NFL Transactions — July 14, 2026

• Buffalo Bills claimed wide receiver Quentin Skinner off waivers from the New York Jets
• Buffalo Bills released wide receiver Deven Thompkins
• Dallas Cowboys placed defensive end Charles Snowden on the suspended list for the first three games of the regular season

Janice McNair’s influence extends well beyond the Texans’ win-loss record. She helped restore NFL football to Houston, shaped the culture of the league’s newest franchise and invested millions into the community surrounding it.

Seattle is simultaneously approaching the beginning of a new ownership era. The expected approval of the Khosla family’s record-setting purchase will close the final chapter of Paul Allen’s stewardship while placing one of the NFL’s most valuable and successful franchises under new control.

On the field, Mayfield’s injury revelations and Buffalo’s continued urgency are reminders of how quickly expectations return. Training camps are about to open, and last season’s injuries, playoff failures and unfinished business are already shaping the pressure surrounding 2026.