It has been nearly four seasons since the San Francisco 49ers had a player by the name of Azeez Al-Shaair. After going undrafted out of Florida Atlantic in 2019, Al-Shaair signed with the 49ers and carved out an eventual starting role with the club. Over four total seasons, the veteran linebacker recorded a total of 199 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven pass deflections, and three fumble recoveries.

He moved on to play for the Tennessee Titans in 2023 before becoming a Pro-Bowler with the Houston Texans this past season. On Wednesday, Al-Shaair was signed to a three-year extension worth $54 million by Houston.

A San Francisco 49ers Connection Is What Brought Azeez Al-Shaair to Houston

Part of the reason why Al-Shaair was brought to Houston after his one season in Tennessee was because of his connection with Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. Over a span of six seasons (2017-2022), Ryans worked his way up from being a defensive assistant to being the 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022. That means he and Al-Shaair were together for four of those years.

Now, Al-Shaair has turned himself into one of the better linebackers in the NFL. Coming off the first Pro Bowl nod of his seven-year career, he notched his third 100-tackle season and set a career high in pass deflections with nine. Still just 28 years of age, he is right in his prime, which is why the Texans were right to pay him.

How the 49ers Have Replaced Azeez Al-Shaair in Recent Years

Part of the reason why the 49ers chose to let Al-Shaair go in free agency after the 2022 season is that they already had a superstar inside linebacker in Fred Warner. It is fair to say that Warner is one of the best defenders in all of football and perhaps the best middle linebacker in the league. Before being lost for the 2025 season due to an ankle injury, the former BYU star had recorded over 110 tackles in seven consecutive seasons. He has also forced a total of 17 forced fumbles.

To go alongside Warner in the seasons after Al-Shaair left, San Francisco had veteran Dre Greenlaw, who is now back for a second stint in the Bay Area, De’Vondre Campbell, Oren Burks, Dee Winters, and other role players who have come and gone in the linebacker room.

Heading into the 2026 season with new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris taking over for Robert Saleh, who is now the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, the Niners will look to play elite defensive football once more. If they can, their hopes for a potential Super Bowl run could be well within reach yet again. For Al-Shaair and the Texans, they could very well be Super Bowl contenders if the newly paid linebacker does his part. In fact, there could be a chance that these teams may meet each other in said Super Bowl.