Al-Shaair was born in Tampa, Florida. As a young child, he moved back and forth between Tampa and Saudi Arabia, where his father worked as an English instructor, until his parents divorced. He lived in Section 8 and became homeless as a sophomore in high school after his home burned down. He commuted two hours by bus from a motel to Hillsborough High School, where he played football.[1] As a senior, he made 126 tackles with 6.5 sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries and also blocked six field goals and a blocked punt and was named first-team All-County.[2] Al-Shaair committed to play college football at Florida Atlantic University going into his senior year, but continued to go on recruiting visits in order to help feed his family.[3]
College career
Al-Shaair before the 2018 FAU season.
Al-Shaair was a four year starter at linebacker for the Florida Atlantic Owls. As a freshman, Al-Shaair was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team and named a Freshman All-American after recording a team-leading 94 tackles (7.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks, two passes broken up and a forced fumble.[4] He again led the Owls in tackles as a sophomore with 113 (12 for loss) and returned an interception for a touchdown and was named honorable mention All-Conference USA.[5] As a junior, Al-Shaair led Conference USA with 147 tackles (11 for loss) along with 2.5 sacks, four passes defensed and a forced fumble and was named first-team all conference. He entered his senior year on the Butkus Award watchlist but tore his ACL in an October practice, ending his final season after six games.[6][7]
Al-Shaair was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019.[10] Al-Shaair made his NFL debut in the season-opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing exclusively on special teams and making two tackles in the 31-17 road victory.[11] The 49ers reached Super Bowl LIV, but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 31–20.[12] He did not appear in any postseason games. Al-Shaair played in 15 games with four starts as a rookie, making 18 tackles.[13]
In Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football in 2020, Al-Shaair recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Carson Wentz during the 25–20 loss.[14]
Al-Shaair entered the 2021 season as a starting linebacker for the 49ers. He started 13 games, finishing second on the team with 102 tackles, along with two sacks, five passes defensed, an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.[15]
On March 15, 2022, the 49ers placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Al-Shaair.[16] He was placed on injured reserve with an MCL sprain on October 3, 2022.[17] He was activated on November 12.[18]
Tennessee Titans
Al-Shaair with the Titans in 2023.
On March 20, 2023, Al-Shaair signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans.[19] He started all 17 games and finished fifth in the league with 163 tackles.[20][21]
Houston Texans
On March 15, 2024, Al-Shaair signed a three-year, $34 million contract with the Houston Texans.[22] Following Week 3, he was fined $11,000 for punching Chicago Bears running back, Roschon Johnson, despite Al-Shaair not being ejected from the game.[23] He was issued a second fine for $11,255 after a late hit out of bounds on Tennessee Titans running back, Tony Pollard.[24]
On December 1, 2024, Al-Shaair delivered an illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, after the latter had slid.[25] Lawrence was ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion and Al-Shaair was ejected. A fight erupted between Al-Shaair and several Jaguar players, with Jacksonville cornerback, Jarrian Jones, also getting ejected.[26][27] Al-Shaair publicly apologized via social media for the hit the next day.[24] Two days after the game, Al-Shaair was suspended for three games with Jon Runyan, the NFL's Vice President of the Policy and Rules, writing in the suspension letter that Al-Shaair's "continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both [him] and [his] opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated."[28]
