Texans Senior VP of Marketing Doug Vosik breaks down uniform release

Rewind the clocks back to last April in Houston.

The city was still buzzing after DeMeco Ryans returned home to take over as the sixth head coach in Houston Texans history.

The noise only enhanced on the first day of the NFL draft after Houston secured its franchise quarterback in two-time Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Stroud at No. 2.

And before those at Hermann Park could catch their breath, general manager Nick Caserio pulled off one of the more aggressive trades in league history, sending two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and a third-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals to land two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3.

At the time, pundits scoffed at the trade. It later became the backbone of a rejuvenation at NRG Stadium amid an 11-8 finish that culminated with an AFC South division title.

Later this month, it’ll be quiet down off NRG Drive when the NFL draft begins in Detroit. The Texans aren’t slated to select a player until pick No. 42, barring Caserio doesn’t get antsy and move up to land a can’t-miss prospect.

But the buzz that lingered across H-Town will be back in a new way 72 hours before Houston makes its first selection and welcomes a new member to the squad. The Texans feel great about their status entering a promising season.

They’ll also look great while hopefully reaching New Orleans for a shot at the Lombardi Trophy.

Houston will unveil four new uniforms for the first time in team history. Before designs were finalized, the team used feedback from former and current players, media members, and a fan council to understand what changes were needed to embrace the city’s culture.

CEO Cal McNair, newly named the Texans’ principal owner, and his wife, Hannah, initiated the process by introducing change into the organization this past season.

Many throughout the organization have uttered Cal McNair’s “Fearlessly Evolve” motto daily.

“I think all of us are excited about the new uniforms,” Texans Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications Doug Vosik exclusively told Texans Wire. “It is not just about me, it’s not about the team, it is not about the McNairs.

“If you think about how the organization chose to do this, we had a choice, and we chose to make it a very fan- and media-inclusive process over the past year and a half. I think all of us, including the fans who were a part of it, are just excited and stoked and naturally curious where it is all going to go.”

Here is a preview of the interview I had today with Houston Texans Senior VP of Marketing & Communications, Doug Vosik. I asked about the players reaction to the uniform change and it came as no surprise who was the most excited. #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/M1zKNAYXtg

— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) April 11, 2024

Hired in July 2022, Vosik was tasked with reinvigorating the organization’s image and brand as the team was experiencing tumultuous times. Houston was in the midst of a three-year playoff drought, a span with a 7-38-1 overall record. The franchise was also looking for its next crop of superstars following the departures of J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins and Deshaun Watson.

An East Coast native by birth, it didn’t take long for him to incorporate the “H-Town” culture into his day-to-day operations.

He pursued interactions with hip-hop artists such as Bun-B, Paul Wall, and Slim Thug. His conversations with individuals who have been football fans since the Houston Oilers were helpful when it was time to design the uniforms.

“I like to use a phrase, and some call it cheesy, ‘You don’t have to be born here to be from here,’ ” Vosik said when asked about embracing Houston’s culture. “When I say that, I am asking, ‘Are you someone that embraces culture, community, and celebrates diversity?’ I love the arts, music, car culture, sports, and different cuisines. If you think about Houston, it has all those things.”

Before Texans fans can give their opinion on the new uniforms, Vosik and his team must sell the individuals wearing them on the new look. Ryans, who likes the upgrades made to the uniform he wore during his Houston playing days, will give the marketing department time to unveil them when the team meets on April 15.

Vosik hopes he garners the same positive reaction from fans that he received from Anderson, safety Jimmie Ward, linebacker Christian Harris, and wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell.

“We have everything behind curtains, and we have lockers set up, and every uniform is in a locker, and we don’t tell them anything,” Vosik said of the players’ reactions during the photo shoot. “At first, they are calm, and you are seeing their reactions, and then they start to see the details. How big is Will? … He is a big dude. To see him jump up and down, like the joy of a kid, because he was that excited because that new uniform is something that he is going to rock [wear], that was really a moment of joy for us.”

Draft Week is gonna be HYPED in H-Town pic.twitter.com/elbIvEMLQP

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 4, 2024

The Texans will host an official uniform release party on Tuesday, April 23, at the 713 Music Hall starting at 6:30 p.m. A select group of fans will be selected at random to attend and witness the uniform unveiling.

They will also have a chance to be the first to purchase new exclusive team merchandise and even get a signature Texans tattoo.

“The gathering event and party are important to us because it is time to have a human one-on-one connection to celebrate the moment,” said a smiling Vosik, ready for the fans to witness all the hard work and dedication put into the process. “This is the first time in team history that we are massively updating our uniforms, and that is a moment that should be celebrated. That is a moment that should be celebrated by the organization, but more importantly, the fans.”