12/23/2025 | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Azeez Al-Shaair, Florida Atlantic football alumnus and current linebacker for the Houston Texans, has been selected to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games for the first time in his NFL career.
Now in his seventh year, this marks the first Pro Bowl honor of Al-Shaair’s career and the fifth straight season in which a former Owl will be represented in the league’s prestigious all-star game. Al-Shaair’s former college teammate and current Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson was selected in four consecutive seasons from 2021-24. Running back Alfred Morris is the other Owl alum to have made a Pro Bowl, a two-time selection from 2013-14.
Al-Shaair has manned the middle of the NFL’s top scoring defense, leading Houston in tackles with 96 while playing in 14 out of 15 games. He has eight pass breakups, most among Texans linebackers, and has recorded two takeaways with a fumble recovery and an interception.
The seven-year pro serves a team captain for the Texans and was named the 2025 club winner for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his charitable contributions off the field, putting him up for the leaguewide honoree that is announced in February.
Al-Shaair is one of nine former Florida Atlantic players who are currently on an NFL roster and one of six on the active 53. Seeing playing time in Week 16 was Harrison Bryant, Al-Shaair’s teammate for both FAU and Houston, as well as New York Giants running back Devin Singletary.
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