‘It’s bigger than me’: Houston Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair Unfazed by NFL Fine Over Pro-Palestine Message
Written by b87fm on 01/19/2026
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair says he wasn’t surprised when the NFL fined him for displaying a pro-Palestine message during a game.
The league issued Al-Shaair an $11,593 fine after he wore eye black reading “stop the genocide,” citing a violation of uniform and equipment rules that prohibit personal messages. Al-Shaair acknowledged the consequences ahead of time.
“I understood what I was doing,” he told reporters.
Messages written on eye black are nothing new in the NFL. Players such as Tim Tebow and Stefon Diggs have previously used eye tape to display words or phrases during games. The league also promotes activism through its “My Cause, My Cleats” initiative, which allows players to design custom cleats supporting political causes or nonprofit organizations. In 2023, following the Hamas attacks in southern Israel on October 7, kicker Greg Joseph wore cleats that read “I stand with Israel.” Al-Shaair himself has participated in the program, using it in 2024 to support the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.
According to Al-Shaair, the issue wasn’t just the fine—it was the warning that he could be removed from the game.
“I was told that if I wore that in the game, I would be pulled out the game,” he said. “That was the part that I was confused about, because I understood it was a fine, but I ain’t never seen [Stefon Diggs] get pulled out the game for having eye tape with writing on it.”
Despite the punishment, the 28-year-old linebacker remained unapologetic.
“It’s bigger than me, the things that are going on,” he said. “It makes people uncomfortable; imagine how those people feel.”
#Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair on getting fined for wearing “stop the genocide” on his eye black last week against the Steelers: “It’s bigger than me,” and “it makes people uncomfortable..” https://t.co/hbSBRO0rx7 pic.twitter.com/QqKdGD0Gel
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) January 19, 2026
Al-Shaair’s stance comes as he continues to be recognized for his work off the field. At the end of last year, he was nominated for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which honors players for philanthropy and community service.
Speaking further about his motivation for drawing attention to Palestine, Al-Shaair emphasized that his concern is rooted in basic humanity.
“I have no affiliation, no connection to these people other than the fact that I’m a human being,” he said. “If you have a heart and you’re a human being, you can see what’s going on in the world, you check yourself real quick.”
He added that the perspective stays with him even after games end.
“Even when I’m walking off this field, that’s the type of stuff that goes through my head—that I have to check myself when I’m sitting here crying about football, when there’s people who are dying every single day.”
