Texans all but confirm Azeez Al-Shaair extension with funny tweet

Once again, the Houston Texans are confirming without confirming another extension.

On Wednesday, the Texans and Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez-Al-Shaair agreed to a new three-year, $54 million extension, keeping him in Houston through the 2029 season. Al-Shaair was entering the final year of his three-year, $33 million extension signed back in 2024.

Hours after the report was released, the Texans posted a GIF of Al-Shaair waving to the crowd, thus signaling that while no announcement has been made, he won't be leaving Reliant Stadium after the 2026 season.

As the heart and quote-driven leader of the S.W.A.R.M. defense, Al-Shaair was a staple of the Texans' turnaround under DeMeco Ryans since arriving from the Tennessee Titans. Last season, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod after leading the franchise with 103 tackles.

Al-Shaair, a former undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic, turned into a full-time starter with the San Francisco 49ers under Ryans, also recorded a career-high eight pass breakups, two quarterback hits, one tackle for a loss, one interception and one fumble recovery.

Over the past two years, Al-Shaair has been in charge of calling the defensive plays under coordinator Matt Burke, wearing the "green dot" on his helmet. With him up the middle, the Texans not only helped opponents to under 18 points per game, but the 277.2 yards per game marker was the lowest in the league, surpassing the fellow top-ranked .