NFL veteran linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair signed a new contract with the Houston Texans. Al-Shaair spent the 2023 season with the Tennessee Titans but also played the first four years of his professional career with the San Francisco 49ers.
The #Texans are expected to sign #Titans LB Azeez Al-Shaair to a 3-year, $34M deal, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2024
Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans, Agree to Contract
Al-Shaair played all four years of his collegiate career at Florida Atlantic, where he started all four seasons. Al-Shaair became a First-Team All-Conference player during his junior season in 2017 after leading Conference USA in tackles. Sadly, Al-Shaair’s senior year ended because he sustained an ACL injury in October 2018. Partly due to his ACL injury, Al-Shaair went undrafted during the 2019 NFL Draft. However, the San Francisco 49ers signed him as an undrafted free agent.
Al-Shaair played for the 49ers for four years, receiving the most starts with the team during his 2021 season. He started 13 regular season games, accruing a career-high two sacks and an interception. Al-Shaair also obtained a career-high nine tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. He continued to receive a high percentage of playing time throughout the postseason, and he even started in the first round of the playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys. Although he did not earn a start in the ensuing two playoff matchups, Al-Shaair received playing time in both games.
Despite having a breakout season in 2021, Al-Shaair did not play nearly as many snaps in 2022. Most of this was due to the 49ers stacked linebacker corps. Although he received far less playing time, Al-Shaair started in all three playoff games for the 49ers and still obtained relatively decent statistics.
Since Al-Shaair became a free agent last offseason, he signed with the Tennessee Titans to follow the former 49ers Director of Player Personnel, Ran Carthon. 2023 was Al-Shaair’s best season, as he was able to start all 17 games for the Titans. Although the team did not perform well, Al-Shaair set career highs for tackles, sacks, and tackles for loss. He was undoubtedly a standout for the Titans defense and will look to perform even better with his new contract.
Main Photo: Steve Roberts – USA Today Sports
