The Houston Texans have provoked a furious online reaction after selecting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair as their nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The decision has been labelled controversial and tone-deaf, given Al-Shaair's extensive history of on-field disciplinary issues, which includes 13 separate NFL violations since 2020.
A Controversial Honour Amidst a Checked Record
All 32 NFL franchises announce a club winner for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, which honours players for exceptional community service and positive impact off the field. The Texans made their announcement on Thursday, December 4, 2025, confirming Al-Shaair would represent the team at the NFL Honors ceremony during Super Bowl week in February and be in contention for the league-wide award.
However, the recognition has been met with immediate and widespread derision from fans. Supporters have taken to social media platform X to express their disbelief, questioning how a player with such a notorious disciplinary record could be deemed the franchise's standard-bearer for character and community work.
One fan sarcastically queried, 'Was everyone else on the team out sick on nomination day…?' Another stated bluntly, 'Bahahhaha nominating him for this award is an insult to the award. One of the dirtiest players in the league for the WPMOTY is Diabolical!' The sentiment was echoed by others who called the linebacker 'the dirtiest player in the NFL' and demanded to know how prior suspensions did not disqualify him from consideration.
A Lengthy List of NFL Violations and a Major Suspension
Azeez Al-Shaair's rap sheet is substantial. In the 2024 season alone, he accrued four violations. These included a sideline altercation with the Chicago Bears in Week 2, resulting in an $11,817 fine, and a hit on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard out of bounds in Week 12, which cost him $11,255.
The most severe incident came the following week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Al-Shaair was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and, more significantly, delivered an illegal hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence that was deemed so dangerous it earned him a three-game suspension. In the suspension letter, NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan explicitly cited Al-Shaair's multiple personal fouls and sportsmanship violations as factors in the punishment's length.
Following the ban, Al-Shaair addressed the controversy on social media, refuting the 'dirty player' label but admitting he lost control. 'Seeing myself on video - letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it - was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me,' he wrote, vowing to learn and grow from the experience.
Stark Contrast to Other Teams' Celebrated Choices
The Texans' contentious selection stands in sharp relief to the applause received by other clubs for their nominees. The Kansas City Chiefs were widely praised, particularly by Taylor Swift's fanbase, for choosing tight end Travis Kelce. Other celebrated club winners included Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders), Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles), and Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens).
This disparity has only heightened scrutiny on Houston's decision, framing it as a baffling misstep that undermines the spirit of an award designed to celebrate the NFL's best ambassadors. The episode leaves the Texans defending a choice that has alienated a segment of their fanbase and drawn negative attention to a player they have chosen to hold up as a role model.
