The Houston Texans have moved quickly to secure one of the cornerstones of their defense following the 2026 NFL Draft, agreeing to a multi-year contract extension with linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
According to multiple reports, the Texans have signed Al-Shaair to a three-year extension, keeping him under contract through the 2029 NFL season. While the financial terms of the new deal have not yet been made public, the agreement comes as Al-Shaair was entering the final year of the three-year, $34 million contract he signed with Houston as a free agent in 2024.
The extension follows a standout 2025 season that marked the best campaign of Al-Shaair’s career. He recorded 103 total tackles, his second-highest single-season total, and set career highs with two interceptions and nine pass breakups. Quarterbacks targeting him posted an 80.3 passer rating
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Al-Shaair’s performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection, and he was also named the Texans’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, recognizing his contributions both on and off the field.
Houston’s decision to extend Al-Shaair comes despite outside interest. ESPN reported that the Dallas Cowboys explored a trade for the veteran linebacker earlier in the offseason before ultimately acquiring Dee Winters from the San Francisco 49ers during the draft.
Keeping Al-Shaair in Houston could prove crucial for the Texans’ defensive continuity. He and fellow starting linebacker Henry To’oTo’o had both been set to reach free agency after the 2026 season. With Al-Shaair now locked in long-term, the Texans have ensured stability at a key position for a defense that ranked among the NFL’s most effective units last year.
The extension also highlights a broader offseason trend for Houston. Al-Shaair becomes the second major defensive piece to receive a lucrative new deal, following the Texans’ decision to extend star edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. on a three-year, $150 million contract — a deal that made Anderson the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history based on average annual value.
As Al-Shaair prepares to enter his age-29 season, the Texans are clearly betting on his leadership, durability, and production to remain central to their defensive identity for years to come.
