Bob McNair, the Houston Texans owner, died on Friday. Richard Drew/Associated Press
Every professional sports league is filled with owners who are doers, those who are followers and some silent types who speak up only when they must. In a relatively short period, the N.F.L. has lost a collection of all three types of owners.
On Friday, the Houston Texans’ founding owner, Bob McNair, died at 81 after a long battle with cancer. He became the fifth owner this year to die or to sell a team, an unusual amount of turnover in a league known for its stability.