Texans owner Cal McNair, left, and quarterback C.J. Stroud are on the verge of a third straight winning season. Tim Warner / Getty Images
C.J. Stroud snubbed the team owner — or at least it was made to seem that way — and the internet went wild. But thankfully for team unity, Cal McNair has a solid sense of humor.
The uproar started when McNair and his wife, Hannah, waited in front of the tunnel to give high-fives to Houston Texans players after their huge win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Most of the players greeted the owner/CEO, except for their star quarterback. Stroud high-fived fans, but not McNair, on his way to the tunnel.
Of course, that sparked wild speculation in Texans Nation. Was the third-year QB angry with the man who has been one of his biggest proponents? Was there a split coming in the offseason? Was there some bad blood no one knew about?
Some called Stroud “arrogant,” warned him not to “bite the hand that feeds you,” and demanded he be traded.
But whatever tension there was — real or imagined — dissipated quickly, thanks to McNair and the Texans’ crafty social media team. As shown in this hilarious Instagram post, McNair traversed the entire team facility with his right hand up the entire time, waiting and waiting for that eventual Stroud high-five.
And, as shown at the end, McNair finally got it.