Changes

The Texans were formed as an expansion team in 2002 (they are the youngest of the current franchises).  The team has made the playoffs six times but has never advanced beyond the Divisional Round.

The Texans were formed as an expansion team in 2002 (they are the youngest of the current franchises).  The team has made the playoffs six times but has never advanced beyond the Divisional Round.

After the controversial relocations of the original Cleveland Browns to Baltimore (as the [[Baltimore Ravens]]) and the Houston Oilers (an original AFL franchise) to Nashville (as the [[Tennessee Titans]]), the NFL quickly announced plans (in March 1998) to ultimately expand to 32 teams.  Cleveland was given the 31st franchise (and, as part of the Ravens' move, the team was given the [[Cleveland Browns]] name and historical records).  The plan was to consider one of three cities for a potential 32nd franchise: Houston (the then fourth largest US media market, Toronto (which would be the first NFL franchise outside the United States, and is the fifth-largest media market among all North American cities) and Los Angeles (the second largest US media market, which had also lost two franchises previously).

After the controversial relocations of the original Cleveland Browns to Baltimore (as the [[Baltimore Ravens]]) and the Houston Oilers (an original AFL franchise) to Nashville (as the [[Tennessee Titans]]), the NFL quickly announced plans (in March 1998) to ultimately expand to 32 teams.  Cleveland was given the 31st franchise (and, as part of the Ravens' move, the team was given the [[Cleveland Browns]] name and historical records).  The plan was then to consider one of three cities for the 32nd franchise: Houston (the then fourth largest US media market), Toronto (which would be the first NFL franchise outside the United States, and is the fifth-largest media market among all North American cities) and Los Angeles (the second largest US media market, which had also lost two franchises previously).

Meanwhile, Houston businessman Bob McNair (who only two weeks prior failed to get Houston a [[National Hockey League]] franchise, and notwithstanding rumors that the NFL would not expand for at least a decade) began plans to bring professional football back to Houston.  He quickly gained the support of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials who supported his plan for a state-of-the-art domed stadium (to replace the venerable, but rapidly aging and out-of-date, Astrodome).

Houston businessman Bob McNair (who only two weeks prior failed to get Houston a [[National Hockey League]] franchise, and notwithstanding rumors that the NFL would not expand for at least a decade) began plans to bring professional football back to Houston.  He quickly gained the support of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials who supported his plan for a state-of-the-art domed stadium (to replace the venerable, but rapidly aging and out-of-date, Astrodome).

Both McNair and Michael Ovitz (who wanted to bring a franchise to Los Angeles) asked the NFL to make its intentions for a 32nd franchise known quickly, lest public support wane in the interim.  The NFL did so, announcing in October 1998 that it would definitely expand to 32 teams, and decide by April 1999 the location of the 32nd franchise.  But by then, Orvitz was faced with a competitor for the potential Los Angeles franchise: Ed Roski, who planned to build a stadium within the shell of the historic Los Angeles Coliseum (host of two prior Olympic games and previously home of the Los Angeles Rams before their move to St. Louis).

Both McNair and Michael Ovitz (who wanted to bring a franchise to Los Angeles) asked the NFL to make its intentions for a 32nd franchise known quickly, lest public support wane in the interim.  The NFL did so, announcing in October 1998 that it would definitely expand to 32 teams, and decide by April 1999 the location of the 32nd franchise.  But by then, Orvitz was faced with a competitor for the potential Los Angeles franchise: Ed Roski, who planned to build a stadium within the shell of the historic Los Angeles Coliseum (host of two prior Olympic games and previously home of the Los Angeles Rams before their move to St. Louis).