Houston secures its defensive cornerstone, locking up a Pro Bowl linebacker for another four seasons. The Texans continue their aggressive contract extension spree.
The Houston Texans have not been shy about making offseason moves throughout 2026. The organization was active on the trade market and in free agency, and the front office has been making sure to lock up its own talent as well. Will Anderson Jr. signed an extension recently that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the entire NFL. Houston also extended its kicker, tight end Dalton Schultz, and edge rusher Danielle Hunter. Now, it's inside linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's turn.
Al-Shaair was only signed through the 2026 season after signing with Houston back during the 2024 offseason on a three-year, $34 million deal. There was some speculation that the franchise might just let him play out the final year of his deal as there is a ton of young talent on the team that is going to have to be paid in the near future, but Houston did not want him to leave after the 2026 season as the two sides agreed to another three-year deal.
The financial terms of this deal have not been announced yet, but it is fair to assume they are somewhere in the neighborhood of the deal he signed with the team back in 2024. It is going to be more expensive this time around, as Al-Shaair proved he was an important leader on this team and improved his play each year of the deal.
Al-Shaair made the Pro Bowl for the first time at the end of the 2025 season, which set him up for a raise on his new deal. There was some smoke around him, potentially being traded, as a few teams called to inquire about his availability, including the Dallas Cowboys. The Texans had no intent to move him, again showing how important he is to the defense.
The linebacker and Head Coach DeMeco Ryans have a long history together, as Ryans coached Al-Shaair when the two were with the San Francisco 49ers. Al-Shaair was viewed as a priority free agent once Ryans got his chance to be a head coach, and he was able to sign the linebacker in his second season running the show in Houston.
The defender's importance cannot be overstated. He produces on the field, but he also leads. He wears the green dot, meaning he serves as the defense's quarterback, communicating with the 10 other guys on the field exactly what the coaching staff wants. Losing him would have been an obstacle for the league's best defense, but now he is locked up in Houston for the next four seasons.