Azeez Al-Shaair isn’t backing down-on or off the field.
Just a week after being fined over $11,000 for wearing eye black with the message “stop the genocide” during the Wild Card round, the Houston Texans linebacker showed up for the Divisional Round matchup against the New England Patriots with the same message clearly visible. If the league decides to issue another fine, it’s clear Al-Shaair is willing to pay the price.
The message was first spotted during the Texans’ postgame celebration following their dominant win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. That appearance cost Al-Shaair $11,593 for violating the NFL’s uniform policy, which prohibits personal messages on apparel.
But that didn’t deter him. Before kickoff in Foxborough, cameras again caught the veteran linebacker wearing the same message while speaking with teammates during warmups.
Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair wearing his “FREE PALESTINE” cleats.
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelV) July 24, 2025
He debuted them last season. pic.twitter.com/F8jTXHf2Lr
Al-Shaair, one of the few Muslim players in the NFL, has consistently used his platform to show support for Palestinian civilians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. It’s not the first time he’s made his stance visible-he’s worn custom cleats in prior seasons to express solidarity with Palestine during both the 2024 and 2025 campaigns.
Whatever your stance on the league’s uniform rules, there’s no denying Al-Shaair’s conviction. And it’s not just symbolic-he’s backing it up with his play.
In the Divisional Round win over New England, Al-Shaair made an early impact by recovering a fumble that set the tone for the Texans, giving the offense a short field and an early opportunity to take control. That kind of heads-up play is exactly what Houston has come to expect from its defensive captain.
He’s been a consistent force all year long. Al-Shaair led the team with 103 tackles during the regular season, and added nine pass breakups, two interceptions, and a forced fumble to round out a standout campaign. In the Wild Card win over Pittsburgh, he was again all over the field, tying for third on the team with six tackles.
That production didn’t go unnoticed-Al-Shaair earned the first Pro Bowl selection of his career in 2025, a well-deserved recognition for a player who’s been a tone-setter on one of the league’s rising defenses.
At 28, Al-Shaair is in the heart of his prime, and he’s playing with a purpose that goes beyond football. Whether the league chooses to fine him again or not, his message is clear-and so is his impact on the field.