Written by By Amaan Akhtar
You might recognize him as the newly acquired standout Texan, or perhaps as one of the best linebackers in the world, and maybe even as the Muslim Houston Texan.
Azeez’s early life was marked by hardship and resilience. He was born in Tampa, Florida, and later moved to Saudi Arabia, only to return to the United States multiple times. Growing up in a financially struggling household with seven siblings, Azeez faced numerous challenges. One particularly vivid memory from his childhood is waking up in his small room, which lacked beds due to their financial situation, and being jolted awake by the smell of something burning and flashes of orange light outside his room. Upon investigating, he discovered that a fire had broken out in the kitchen. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to extinguish the flames, but he acted swiftly to ensure the safety of his siblings, guiding them out of the house. It was later revealed that the fire had started because his older sister had left the stove on before leaving for work.
In addition to these struggles, Azeez’s parents went through a divorce when he was in second grade, adding further emotional turmoil to his young life. Despite these challenges, Azeez found solace and strength in his close relationship with his mother and in his strong Muslim faith. It was his mother who imparted the importance of preserving and nurturing his faith, which became a guiding force in his life.
He made his way to college and decided to attend Florida Atlantic University (FAU). His teammates held a deep respect for him, especially during Ramadan, when they witnessed him fully participating in the workouts alongside them. Despite fasting, he matched their efforts, completing the same number of reps and devoting the same amount of time and energy. His unwavering commitment to his faith and his unyielding work ethic left a lasting impression. His dedication bore fruit when, after 3 years at FAU, he shattered the university’s record for most tackles of all time.
You would think that with such an amazing work ethic and skill, he would surely get drafted within the 7 rounds of the NFL draft and that he would be one of the 224 picks. However, no team selected him. He had always dreamed of being drafted, and after all the hardships he faced in his life and all the commitment he put in, he still was not drafted. That was until he got a call from the San Francisco 49ers asking him to come to their practice. They must have liked what they saw because they signed him to the team a few days later, and he became an undrafted NFL player. Allah (SWT) had granted him a second chance at the NFL. His duas that he would make paid off because he stayed patient with his lord. As he performed for the team, he got better and better, and they put him on their starting lineup. Shaair stayed in San Francisco for 4 years after being signed in 2019. He then moved to play for the Tennessee Titans, where he was healthy for every single game and had the best season of his career. On March 15th, 2024, Shaair was signed by the Houston Texans. Shaair is a perfect fit here in Houston and also a great leader. He teaches us that if you are patient with Allah (SWT), then he will bless your duas.