Azeez-Al Shaair was always going to be strapping it up with the Houston Texans beyond 2026.
According to reports, the Texans and Pro Bowl linebacker have agreed to a new three-year extension, keeping him in Houston through the 2029 season. Al-Shaair was entering the final year of his three-year, $33 million extension signed back in 2024.
The #Texans and Pro Bowl LB Azeez Al-Shaair have agreed to terms on a three-year extension, per @RapSheet and me. A big payday for a key member of Houston’s defense and its Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in a deal negotiated by Jason Chayut of @SPORTSTARSNYC. pic.twitter.com/ikgUwnmSXZ
As the heart and quote-driven leader of the NFL’s top-ranked defense, Al-Shaair was a staple of the Texans' turnaround under DeMeco Ryans since arriving from Tennessee. Last season, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod after leading the franchise with 103 tackles.
Al-Shaair, a former undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic, turned into a full-time starter with the San Francisco 49ers under Ryans, also recorded a career-high eight pass breakups, two quarterback hits, one tackle for a loss, one interception and one fumble recovery.
As the man up the middle, Al-Shaair has been in charge of calling the defensive plays under coordinator Matt Burke, wearing the "green dot" on his helmet. With him up the middle, the Texans not only helped opponents to under 18 points per game, but the 277.2 yards per game marker was the lowest in the league, surpassing the fellow top-ranked Denver Broncos.
Houston also finished with 47 sacks, which ranked among the top 10 of all teams.
Social media seemed welcoming to the news, here were some of the best reactions to the deal.
BREAKING: The Houston Texans and Azeez Al-Shaair have agreed to terms on a 3-year extension #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/oqaAp0uisp
Logic for the win!There's a reason the Texans didn't target a MLB early like Anthony Hill Jr. and CJ Allen in the draft.It's becuase they already had a pro bowler on the roster who's just entering his prime in Azeez Al-Shaair. https://t.co/m9ZDKK96NQ
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) April 29, 2026
Now I can finally stop saying Azeez Al-Shaair is not playing another snap for the Texans under his original 3-year deal b/c he was absolutely going to get an extension done with the team. And now he has. https://t.co/JKRYysBLxl
"Azeez Al-Shaair is a tone setter for the Houston Texans..That is a championship defense and I think Kayden McDonald was an underrated draft pick"@RealTannenbaum #PMSLive https://t.co/ycyc5T37fr pic.twitter.com/sKF7XeHnjD
Azeez Al-Shaair signing this extension means the defense is set for the next couple seasonsAgent 0 has been amazing for the Texans, the captain & green dot and the heart & soul of the #1 defense in the NFLFull vid in replies pic.twitter.com/oCRYybQfRF
leader of men, my favorite texan https://t.co/QF99rc6T9M
If a mario kart spike shell was a Linebacker, it’d be Azeez Al-Shaair https://t.co/0s1IM9YQuF
Very important extension 👏 https://t.co/6lkIJlQaGj
Our defensive captain is HERE TO STAY!One of the best FA signings in #Texans FA history and it’s unfortunate how he had to waste a year with the Titans before he came home smh https://t.co/KFkHsYg3Eg
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Social media reacts to Texans recent extension of Pro Bowl LB Azeez Al-Shaair