Irrespective of the things the Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair might go on to achieve in his career, he will forever be remembered for crashing into Jacksonville Jaguars starting QB Trevor Lawrence. But now, the Pro Bowler is finally setting the record straight about the fallout from his 3-game (supposed to be 4-game) suspension in the 2024 NFL season. 

Looking back on his collision with Trevor Lawrence, Azeez Al-Shaair recently opened up about the backlash he has faced since and called out the league’s disciplinary double standard on The Pivot Podcast. He even went on to label the ensuing consequences as his “biggest pivot as an adult.”

“Prior to that play, either A, you might not even know who the hell I was, and if you did know who I was, that was never ‘dirty player’ or ‘piece of crap’ attached to my name ever. But now, off of this one moment, this one play that happened this fast, everything that I’ve worked for is like now up in arms…

“Like a year and a half ago, they were talking about not playing football. They trying to ban me from playing football. Like what are we talking about? Like I mean, literally I got suspended for four games. They moved it down to three because I was ejected in the first quarter of that game. So they said we’ll count that as a game. And this guy is doing a lot worse than tackling somebody and (tap) getting the good man. Right. But I’m getting attacked as a human being for a play that literally is happening in a split second. So, if I could say my biggest pivot, you know, as an adult, it was probably that, because I could have easily, and I was this close. Like, bro, and this is just being real.”

Lawrence initiated his slide after scrambling just 2 yards away while sprinting at full speed, giving almost no hints that he was about to slide, causing Al-Shaair to ram into the QB.

Al-Shaair noted that modern QBs weigh 240 pounds and run 4.4-second speed, making it nearly impossible for a closing linebacker to stop instantly mid-tackle. 

NFL Vice President Jon Runyan suspended Al-Shaair for 3 games without pay, claiming a lack of sportsmanship and respect. Al-Shaair stood against the strong words used to describe the incident. He met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Troy Vincent, and Runyan during his appeal to challenge the league’s statement regarding his character.

Runyan’s official letter included phrases like “unacceptable and a serious violation”, “illegal hit”, “unsportsmanlike acts”, “lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game”, and even blamed Azeez Al-Shaair for escalating the brawl that ensued.

Al-Shaair hadn’t been sidelined with a suspension in his NFL career before this incident and hasn’t been suspended since. Something that the Texans General Manager Nick Caserio pointed out in his defense of the linebacker, who was being painted with fake narratives. 

The season after, Azeez Al-Shaair responded with his first Pro Bowl selection and started every game for the Houston Texans, earning 103 combined tackles in the regular season.