Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has broken his silence following his brutal tackle on Trevor Lawrence on Sunday.
Al-Shaair, who has also been criticized by fans for wearing pro-Palestinian football boots, was ejected from the game after crushing the helpless Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback as he slid to the ground.
In a post on X on Monday morning, Al-Shaair wrote: “I have always played the game as hard as I can. Never with the intention of harming anyone, and anyone who knows me knows that.
“My goal is to hit you as hard as I can, and then I pray that you are still able to get up and play the next game.” And when the game is over, go home unscathed to your family, because it’s not personal, it’s just competition! We’re both trying to do the same thing: take care of our families!
‘I really didn’t see him slide until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor, I would like to sincerely apologize for what ultimately happened.
“We spoke before the game and I told you how great it was to see you back on the field and wished you the best. I would never want a player to get hurt by a hit I give him, especially if it is deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary’.
Azeez Al-Shaair has broken his silence following his brutal tackle on Trevor Lawrence on Sunday
Lawrence lay motionless on the grass and it caused a huge brawl between the teams
“For the rest of his teammates, I can certainly understand standing behind him and defending him in a situation like this.
“To the rest of the people I’ve been called by every 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 that I don’t have 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 linebacker first made headlines on Sunday for a brutal hit on Lawrence that left him motionless on the lawn and sparked a huge brawl between the teams.
Lawrence ran down for a first down and slid to give himself up to the play. Al-Shaair didn’t stop and delivered a vicious blow to the quarterback’s upper body and helmet.
As soon as the goal was scored, Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was the first to push Al-Shaair, with several others from both teams involved in the scrum seconds later.
Lawrence was eventually taken away and alert, while Al-Shaair was ejected from the match.
Lawrence later posted, “Thank you to everyone who reached out/prayed for me. I’m home and feeling better. It means a lot, thank you all.”
Jaguars tight end Evan Engram pushed Al-Shaair to the ground as tempers flared in Florida
Al-Shaair had to be removed from the field by stadium security and Texas staff
Al-Shaair had to be removed from the field by stadium security and Texas staff after fans at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville pelted him with trash.
Before Al-Shaair left the field, he became involved in a shouting match with Jaguars offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, which almost led to a second brawl.
Eagle-eyed fans later criticized Al-Shaair after noticing a pro-Palestine message on the linebacker’s cleats.
This included Nick Adams, the Australian-born right-wing commentator and self-proclaimed alpha male, who posted on
‘Nick Bosa wears a MAGA hat in a postgame interview and he’s fined the NFL’s maximum amount. 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 this season.
During weeks 13 and 14 of the season, NFL players can wear specially 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 shoes in red and green Palestine colors, with messages written on the side.
Al-Shaair wore pro-Palestine boots on Sunday before being expelled for fighting
The outside of the cleats featured the word “Free,” written in the colors of the Palestinian flag
One cleat read: “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return,” while the other read: “At least 41,788 Palestinians killed.” It is estimated that more than 10,000 people are buried under the rubble. 96,794 injured.”
Al-Shaair is a practicing Muslim and he joined the Texans in March on a three-year, $34 million contract.
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Another urged the NFL to suspend him, but others defended him, writing, “Religion of Peace.”
Even more fans brought up Bosa’s recent fine for wearing a Donald Trump MAGA hat and speculated about the punishment Al-Shaair will face for his own political message.