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Mics Caught Titans LB Telling Mike Evans How He Used to Watch Him While He Was Homeless

What a special moment during Sunday’s Titans-Bucs game.

Kevin Sweeney

Mics Caught Titans LB Telling Mike Evans How He Used to Watch Him While He Was Homeless
Mics Caught Titans LB Telling Mike Evans How He Used to Watch Him While He Was Homeless /
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Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans and Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair shared a cool moment on the field during Sunday’s game between the two squads.

Al-Shaair has one of the most powerful background stories of any player in the NFL: He grew up in Tampa and spent time in Section 8 housing after his parents divorced, then became homeless during high school after a fire. He then lived out of a motel and spent hours each day commuting to school to keep playing football. That made this game in Tampa a special one, and he shared a moment with the veteran Evans to express his appreciation for what he has done for the city.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) celebrates his touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans celebrates his touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 :: Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

“I’m from here, born and raised. I grew up homeless my whole life. I swear to God, I’ve been watching you since I was a [kid],” Al-Shaair told Evans. “I used to stay under a bridge, bro.”

Evans seemed honored by the recognition, complimenting Al-Shaair on his game before the two embraced and went their separate ways.

After going undrafted in 2019 out of Florida Atlantic, Al-Shaair has carved out a strong career in the NFL. He first played for San Francisco as a special teamer and is now a starting linebacker for Tennessee. Al-Shaair leads the Titans in tackles and has 27 more than the team’s next-highest total.

It’s a pretty amazing story, and him getting to show out back at home is pretty special. Evans was all class too, a great representative of the organization he has now spent a decade with.

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Kevin Sweeney
KEVIN SWEENEY

Kevin Sweeney is a staff writer at Sports Illustrated covering college basketball and the NBA draft. He joined the SI staff in July 2021 and also serves host and analyst for The Field of 68. Sweeney is a Naismith Trophy voter and ia member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

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