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How DeMeco Ryans’ reunion with linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair brings ‘physical style of play, leadership’ to Texans’ defense

Former 49ers, Titans linebacker played for DeMeco Ryans in San Francisco and recorded 163 tackles last season in Tennessee

Tennessee Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (2) breaks up a pass intended for Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (George Walker Iv, Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

ORLANDO, Fla. – One year after the Texans explored signing hard-hitting veteran linebacker Azeez Al-Shairr, he joined the AFC South champions Monday during the first day of the free agent legal tampering period.

The Texans immediately targeted Al-Shaair as a key addition for their revamped front seven, reuniting him with coach DeMeco Ryans after he coached him previously with the San Francisco 49ers.

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This time, the Texans landed the former undrafted free agent from Florida Atlantic after watching him ply his aggressive trade for the Tennessee Titans last season as he finished fifth in the NFL with 163 tackles.

Al-Shaair provides a relentless sideline-to-sideline presence and fills a gap created by former Texans starting linebacker and leading tackler Blake Cashman signing with the Minnesota Vikings.

“Azeez is going to bring a physical style of play to our defense,” Ryans said Monday morning during the NFL owners meetings at the Ritz Carlton. “He’s going to bring leadership. He had a really good season last year for the Titans. So, seeing him two times a year you can see the growth that he has made as a player.”

Al-Shaair had two sacks, nine tackles for losses and four pass breakups last season.

Al-Shaair, 26, signed a one-year, $5 million deal last season to join the Titans, boosting his value significantly with one season. Now, he remains in the AFC South division.

A former All-Conference USA selection who went undrafted after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in college, Al-Shaair signed with the 49ers and made the 53-man roster.

The 6-foot-2, 228-pound linebacker has recorded 362 career tackles, two interceptions, 20 tackles for losses and four sacks.

“He played a lot of snaps for them last year,” Ryans said. “He was healthy. We look for him to bring the same thing, bring that intensity, bring that leadership to our team and just be himself and help us to be better”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.


About the Author
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Aaron Wilson is an award-winning Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and www.click2houston.com. He has covered the NFL since 1997, including previous stints for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. This marks his 10th year covering the Texans after previously covering a Super Bowl winning team in Baltimore.

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