Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has issued a furious response to criticism of his brutal tackle on Trevor Lawrence, claiming he’s being racially targeted because of the pro-Palestine message he wore on his cleats.
Al-Shaair, who has attracted criticism from fans over the political message on his cleats, was ejected from Sunday’s game after smashing the helpless Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback as he slid to the ground.
However on Monday morning, Al-Shaair, who is paid $11million-a-season, immediately cast himself as the victim and blasted ‘racist and Islamophobic fans and people’.
He wrote on social media: ‘I’ve always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that.
‘My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play. And when the game is over go home to your family unharmed because it’s not personal it’s just competition! We both are trying to do the same thing which is provide for our families!
‘I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.
Azeez Al-Shaair claims he is being racially targeted after his brutal tackle on Trevor Lawrence
Lawrence’s wife, Melissa, said that they ‘appreciate all of the love and support’ from fans
‘Before the game we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them especially one that’s deemed “late” or “unnecessary”.
‘To the rest of his teammates I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that.
‘To the rest of the people who l’ve been called every single name in the book from reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villain, to racist and Islamophobic fans and people, you don’t know my heart nor my character which I don’t need to prove to any of you.
‘God knows my intentions and anyone who has ever been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart.’
The unsavory scenes in Jacksonville capped off a bleak weekend for football that was filled with gridiron fights.
During Saturday’s slate of college football, fights happened during the clashes between Michigan-Ohio State, Auburn-Alabama, Missouri-Arkansas, Florida-Florida State, and a few others.
For Michigan-Ohio State, Florida-Florida State, and North Carolina-North Carolina State, fights were started after the winning team planted a flag at midfield of the field.
The uptick in on-field gridiron fights coincides with the last week of the regular season for college football, with many teams playing their biggest rivals.
Al-Shaair smashed into a diving Lawrence on Sunday before a huge brawl broke out on the field
Lawrence was left lying motionless on the turf and it sparked a huge brawl between the teams
During the Ohio State-Michigan game, some players were pepper sprayed to stop players from throwing punches at each other.
During USC-Notre Dame, Fighting Irish defender Rylie Mills aimed a shocking punch at rival Emmanuel Pregnon.
In the NFL’s case, more eyeballs are on the product than usual this weekend due to it being Thanksgiving week.
It was not the first controversial action from Al-Shaair this season, either.
During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.
The linebacker first hit the headlines on Sunday for a brutal hit on Lawrence that left him motionless on the turf and sparked a huge brawl between the teams.
Lawrence was running for a first down and slid to give himself up on the play. Al-Shaair did not pull up and made a vicious hit to the upper body and helmet of the quarterback.
As soon as the hit was delivered, Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was the first to shove Al-Shaair, with several others from both teams involved in the scrum seconds later.
Al-Shaair also wore pro-Palestine cleats on Sunday, before being ejected for fighting
The cleats featured the word ‘Free’ on the outsides, written in the colors of the Palestine flag
Lawrence was eventually carted off and alert, while Al-Shaair was ejected from the game and later posted: ‘Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me. I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all’.
His wife, Melissa, said: ‘Thank you for all of the texts and prayers. Just taking time to make sure he’s okay and get healthy but we appreciate all of the love and support.’
Al-Shaair needed to be removed from the field by stadium security and Texans’ personnel after fans at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville pelted him with garbage.
Before leaving the field, Al-Shaair got into a shouting match with Jaguars offensive lineman Brandon Scherff that nearly led to a second brawl.
Eagle-eyed fans then later criticized Al-Shaair after spotting a pro-Palestine message on the linebacker’s cleats.
That included Nick Adams, the Australian-born right-wing commentator and self-proclaimed alpha male, who posted on X: ‘Azeez Al-Shaair wears pro-terrorism messages on his cleats and faces no consequences.
‘Nick Bosa wears a MAGA hat in a postgame interview and he gets fined the maximum amount by the NFL. Boycott the NFL.’
Adams is referring to the $11,255 fine given to San Francisco 49ers star Bosa for wearing a Make America Great Again hat on live TV earlier in the season.
Al-Shaair needed to be removed from the field by stadium security and Texans’ personnel
During Weeks 13 and 14 of the season, NFL players can wear custom designed cleats to support causes close to them through the ‘My Cause My Cleats’ initiative.
The Tampa-born NFL star, 27, had ‘Free’ written on the outside of his cleats in red and green Palestine colors, with messages written on the side.
On one cleat, it read: ‘Surely to Allah we belong and to him we will all return,’ while the other said: ‘At least 41,788 Palestinians killed. 10,000+ estimated to be under the rubble. 96,794 wounded.’
Al-Shaair is a practicing Muslim, and he joined the Texans in March on a three-year, $34million contract.
Taking to X, many NFL fans piled in on the player for using the sport to share his political views, with one writing: ‘Ooh now I really hate him.’
Another urged the NFL to suspend him, but others defended him and wrote: ‘Religion of peace.’
Yet more fans brought up Bosa’s recent fine for wearing a Donald Trump MAGA hat and speculated over the punishment Al-Shaair will face for his own political message.
