Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair made headlines again during Sunday’s divisional playoff matchup against the New England Patriots - not just for his play, but for the message he carried with him into the game. For the second straight week, Al-Shaair wore eye black with the words “Stop the Genocide,” a statement that has drawn both support and scrutiny across the league.
The message - which Al-Shaair also wore during last week’s wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers - reportedly resulted in a fine of $11,593 from the NFL. According to league rules, specifically Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8, players are prohibited from displaying personal messages on game day attire. That includes interviews and appearances while in uniform, which is where Al-Shaair’s message was visible during a postgame spot on SportsCenter.
What’s still unclear is whether Al-Shaair wore the same message during actual game time on Sunday or if it was limited to the pregame period. Cameras later showed him with plain eye black during the game, suggesting he may have removed the message before kickoff.
Al-Shaair’s message references the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a cause he’s been vocal about throughout the season. He’s used the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” initiative to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis and has regularly shared his perspective on social media. On Sunday, he posted two Instagram stories related to the conflict, continuing to use his platform to speak out.
This isn’t a new stance for Al-Shaair. During the 2024 season, he spoke openly about the suffering on both sides of the conflict.
“I feel like it’s something that’s trying to be almost silenced,” he told the Houston Chronicle. “On either side, people losing their lives is not right.
In no way, shape or form am I validating anything that happened, but to consistently say that because of (the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas), innocent people (in Gaza) should now die, it’s crazy.”
Al-Shaair, who is a practicing Muslim, has received public support from civil rights organizations, including CAIR-Houston - the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The group released a statement Sunday applauding the linebacker for using his platform to call for peace and express concern for innocent lives caught in the crossfire.
“We again applaud Houston Texans player Azeez Al-Shaair for using his platform to call for an end to genocide anywhere and everywhere,” said CAIR-Houston Director of Operations Imran Ghani. “Azeez Al-Shaair’s message was rooted in basic human decency and concern for innocent lives. That should not be controversial, much less subject to a fine.”
Ghani also pointed out what he sees as inconsistency in the NFL’s enforcement of its uniform policy, referencing coaches who have worn pins supporting Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” campaign. “The NFL should have no problem with a player opposing genocide - whether it’s in Gaza, Sudan, or anywhere else,” Ghani added. “It should approve the use of the slogan ‘Stop the Genocide’ going forward.”
Al-Shaair’s fine fits into a broader trend of the NFL penalizing players for expressing political or personal views during games or official team appearances. Last season, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa was fined $11,255 for wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat during a postgame interview, with the league citing the same rule used in Al-Shaair’s case.
As the Texans continue their playoff run, Al-Shaair’s message - and the league’s response - remains a flashpoint in the ongoing conversation about player expression, league policy, and the boundaries of activism on the field.