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Houston Texans pass rusher Azeez Al-Shaair spoke out about the fine he received for wearing a pro-Palestinian message across his eye patch during a playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Al-Shaair spoke to reporters outside his locker in the aftermath of the Texans’ loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. He was hit with an $11,593 fine, according to ESPN, for having “Stop the Genocide” emblazoned across the tape.
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Azeez Al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans watches from the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
He told the media that he was aware what he did would be fined.
“I knew it was a fine. I understood what I was doing… I was told if I wore it in the game I would be pulled from the game,” he said, via ESPN . “I think that’s the part I was confused about because I understood it was a fine, but I’ve never seen Stef (Stefon Diggs) get pulled from a game for wearing eye tape with writing on it.
“At the end of the day, it’s bigger than me, the stuff that’s going on. If it makes people uncomfortable, imagine how those people feel. I think that’s the biggest thing. I have no attachment, no connection to these people other than the fact that I’m a human being. If you have a heart and you’re a human being and you see what’s going on in the real world when I’m going off in the real world myself. that’s the type of thing that’s going on in my head, I’m checking myself even when I sit here and cry about football when there are people dying every single day.
The NFL rulebook states in Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 what players can and cannot wear on game days. The rule states: “During the entire period on game day when a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including during pre-match warm-ups, in the bench area and during post-match interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message is approved in advance by the League Office.
Azeez Al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans leaves the field during an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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“The League will not permit any club or player to wear, display or otherwise convey messages through helmet decals, wristbands, jersey patches, mouthpieces or other items affixed to playing uniforms or equipment that relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns otherwise in good taste or endorsed by such campaigns. non-commercial and non-controversial; may not be worn for more than one football season.”
Al-Shaair has supported Palestinians in the past, including wearing “Free Palestine” shoes for the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” campaign during the 2024 season.
Al-Shaair had written “Free” on one side of his shoes in the colors of the Palestinian flag. On one shoe was written “Surely to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall all return.” On the side of his other shoe, he included the number of Palestinians allegedly killed and wounded in their war with Israel.
The shoes were for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, which he also supported in 2023.
“I feel like it’s something that’s almost trying to be silenced,” Al-Shaair told the Houston Chronicle at the time. “On both sides, it’s not right that people are losing their lives. In no way, shape, or form am I validating anything that happened, but consistently saying that because of [Oct. 7] innocent people [in Gaza] should die now, it’s crazy.
Azeez al-Shaair of the Houston Texans shakes hands with Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers after an NFL wild card playoff game at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
“[Other people] try to disconnect and dehumanize people over there. And it’s like, they’re human. As a Muslim we all see the same; Black, white, Spanish, whatever you are; you can be orange, just like we are all human.”
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Al-Shaair was also part of the organization Athletes for Ceasefire.
