After more than a decade in the NFL, Glover Quin is building something more low-key, but just as intentional. The former Houston Texans safety, who started 60 games during his time in Houston, has turned his focus from the gridiron to a studio, swapping game film for photographs and custom frames. What began as a hobby has grown into GQ Frames, a business focused on quality craftsmanship and personal storytelling.
Quin recently opened his first storefront it 1500 Brittmoore Road, giving the business a dedicated space to meet clients and showcase his work. He chose the location because he has spent years in the area and saw it as a natural fit for the kind of clientele he wants to serve.
Quin’s path into photography began after his 2018 retirement. With more time, he began photographing his children’s sporting events, and what started out as a hobby quickly became something more structured. He enrolled in film school, took classes in photography and Photoshop, and spent years refining his skills, often using his own family as subjects.
From there, framing became part of the process. Quin wanted a better way to present his photographs at home, which led him to try out store-bought frames and matting. Eventually, he began building frames himself, learning through trial and error. Precision was necessary for his work. “If the frame isn’t cut perfectly, nothing else works,” he said.
Without formal training at the start, Quin gradually developed a process that worked. He later earned certification from the Professional Picture Framers Association, strengthening the technical side of his practice.
A turning point occurred in 2022, following the Houston Astros' World Series win. Quin created a custom-framed newspaper piece for his own home and shared it on social media. The response was instant. Requests started coming in, first from friends and then from a larger audience.
“What started as something for my house turned into people asking if I could create something for theirs,” he said.
Those early projects focused heavily on sports memorabilia, including jerseys and keepsakes. Working out of his garage, Quin handled each order himself, building the business steadily through word of mouth. The same principles that guided his football career carried over. “All I know is the NFL,” he said. “Production wins almost all the time, but accountability is key.”
Today, GQ Frames goes beyond memorabilia into custom framing for art, photography, and interior design projects. Quin works with clients across the country, designing pieces meant for personal as well as curated spaces. The Memorial storefront adds more ways for Glover to interact with customers and deliver a more hands-on, collaborative experience.
Quin sees each piece as part of a wider narrative and prefers to think of himself not simply as a framer, but as a visual storyteller. Every project carries meaning, and his role is to help present it in a style that feels complete. gqframes.com
I recently told someone that I should call myself a visual story teller, because every piece that gets framed has a story. Presenting a custom framed piece to a happy client gives them the opportunity to tell the story behind it.