The franchise makes a historic debut

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Since they first took an NFL field in 2002, the Houston Texans have looked pretty good.

Not anymore — not because quarterback C.J. Stroud can take a loaded roster to new heights.

On Tuesday, the league's youngest team issued a wild rebrand in favor of a new rule allowing clubs to use three different helmets, as the Texans do. They added a color to their palette and alternate uniforms to honor Houston's culture. The results come after gathering information from more than 10,000 surveys and 30 focus groups in what it claims is “the most fan-inclusive and transparently consistent redesign in NFL history.”

It appears that the Texans may have given this vow.

“(W)e are proud to unveil our new uniforms. They are even more special because they are inspired by our fans,” club president and CEO Cal McNair said in a statement.

“Our fans asked us to be H-Town and we delivered. They've been with us every step of the way, and the four uniforms truly have something for everyone.

The home and away jerseys are largely unchanged, with notable changes including the jersey font and shoulder strap resembling a bull's horn on the “Liberty White” roadies.

But the Texans embraced change and creativity in their alternate and Color Rush uniforms. They will once again use a “Battle Red” helmet but will feature “candy paint red flakes, a red metallic chrome visor, a new bullhorn-inspired helmet logo application and the Texans bullhead logo on the back.” The Color Rush option is an ode to the city, with “H-Town Blue” accents and a new, stylized H logo next to a new star for the Texas state flag (similar to the team's original logo). And, yes, that “H-Town Blue” definitely looks like a nod to the franchise's Houston Oilers predecessors' “Columbia Blue,” even though those throwback rights are owned by the division rival Tennessee Titans … so sad. Many Houstonians.

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The Texans became the first NFL team to “introduce a new logo on the alternate helmet and a two-logo system on all helmets.” Before Tuesday, Houston was the only league in the league that hadn't changed its primary logo or had an alternate one.

The reigning AFC South champions will do well in 2024. Will they be good enough to reach their first AFC Championship game? Or maybe better?

H-Town looks on with great pride.

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Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.

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