Video of Azeez Al-Shaair going for Tom Brady’s throat goes viral after Trevor Lawrence hit left QB concussed

Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit that concussed Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is not the first controversial action taken on the gridiron by the current Houston Texans’ linebacker. 

During his final season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, Al-Shaair went for Tom Brady’s throat during a sack attempt. 

After Brady released the ball is when Al-Shaair wrapped his right hand around Brady’s throat, with any inadvertent action made to look worse by the now-Texan not immediately disengaging from the Hall of Fame quarterback.  

Al-Shaair was not flagged for a penalty on the play for his actions, even after Brady pointed out the act to the officials. 

The near-chokehold and Al-Shaair’s hit to a prone Lawrence occurred less than two years apart, with the linebacker ejected due to the hit and expected to face a lengthy suspension. 

Lawrence did not return to the game and his timetable to return to the field is unknown. 

Al-Shaair’s hit on Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence has put a spotlight on him in a negative way

Al-Shaair did take to social media on Monday, apologizing for the play that hurt Lawrence.  

Al-Shaair wrote: ‘I’ve always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that. 

‘My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play. And when the game is over go home to your family unharmed because it’s not personal it’s just competition! We both are trying to do the same thing which is provide for our families!

‘I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.

‘Before the game we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them especially one that’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary’.

‘To the rest of his teammates I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that. 

‘To the rest of the people who l’ve been called every single name in the book from reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villain, to racist and Islamophobic fans and people, you don’t know my heart nor my character which I don’t need to prove to any of you. 

‘God knows my intentions and anyone who has ever been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart.’

It was not the first controversial action from Al-Shaair this season, either. During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.