'A Physical Style Of Play' What Texans Are Getting In Azeez Al-Shairr

The Houston Texans are set to see better results at linebacker with the addition of former Tennessee Titans standout Azeez Al-Shairr.

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

This time last offseason, hard-hitting linebacker Azeez Al-Shairr was almost a member of the Houston Texans.

He was a favorite to follow his former defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans to NRG Stadium and serve as the face up the middle. He planned to don the Battle Red and Steel Blue and be a part of the historic run behind rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

But talks stalled down the stretch, leading to a pivot aimed at Tennessee. A year after playing with the AFC rival Titans, Al-Shairr is finally in Houston for the long run.

Ryans wasn't letting Al-Shairr leave his sights a second time.

“Azeez is going to bring a physical style of play to our defense,” Ryans told reporters during the NFL owner's meetings at the Ritz Carlton in Orlando, Fla. “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-Shairr joins a Texans' roster in need of a new MIKE backer following the departure of Blake Cashman to Minnesota. Houston tried to retain its leading tackler, but the two sides never saw eye-to-eye on annual salary and contract length.

Tennessee Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (2) greets safety Amani Hooker (37) during warm ups / Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA

Enter Al-Shairr, who proved last season under Mike Vrabel his value as a full-time starter, finishing fifth nationally in tackles with 163 stops. He also had two sacks, nine tackles for losses and four pass breakups in 17 games as Tennessee trudged its way to a 6-11 finish.

“He played a lot of snaps for them last year,” Ryans said of Al-Shaair's breakout season. “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."

The one-year, $5 fyler in Nashville paid off for Al-Shaiir in negotiations. Houston knew it needed an off-ball run-stopper to pair alongside third-year starter Christian Harris, but it needed to leave the former Alabama star on the edge. The Texans needed a middle backer, and Al-Shairr was one of the few players who could line up anywhere on the open market and have a strong understanding of Ryans' concepts.

The result? A three-year, $34 million deal to reunite with Ryans. The second-year coach landed his general up the middle and another piece to the puzzle in hopes of securing a conference title come January.

The Texans' defense, which went from 29th to 11th in points per game and 30th to 15th in yards per contest under Ryans in Year 1, also bolstered their front seven with the additions of former Titans defensive lineman Denico Autry and four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter. The duo last season combined for totaled 28 sacks, 35 tackles for loss and 39 QB hits.

Hunter, a native of Katy who played at Morton Ranch High School, is expected to live up to his two-year, $49 million deal after posting career highs in 2023. Ryans, who's worked with pass rushers like Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, and reigning Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr., said Hunter's arm length sets him apart from other top-level defensive ends.

“He’s had double-digit sacks multiple times in his career, and we’re looking for him to add constant pressure on the quarterback,” Ryans said.