NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
While being interviewed by ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” team, it was revealed that Azeez Al-Shaair had a message he wanted to share.
The Houston Texans linebacker was spotted wearing eye black that read “Stop the Genocide.”
The message was probably regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
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)
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, it had the number of Palestinians allegedly killed and injured 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.
“[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 way; Black, white, Spanish, whatever you are; you can be orange, just like we are all human.”
Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans talks to his teammates before kickoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
NFL ANALYTICS VENTURE FOUNDED BY EX-NFL EXEC CLOSES SERIES B INVESTMENT ROUND
Al-Shaair was also part of the Athletes for Ceasefire organization along with several other athletes.
During the match, wearing the Palestine cleats, Al-Shaair made a tackle on Trevor Lawrence that left him with a concussion, leading to backlash and a sending off. In a statement apologizing for the hit, he blasted “racist and Islamophobic fans and people” for attacking him online.
1 December 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) slides down in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) in the second quarter during the second quarter at EverBank Stadium. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
Al-Shaair’s Texans scored 23 points in the fourth quarter on Monday to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 and advance to the AFC divisional round. They will face the Patriots in New England on Sunday at 15 A.M.
