Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady defended Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for his hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence that led to Lawrence suffering a concussion and Al-Shaair being ejected and eventually suspended.
Brady, the NFL's all-time leading passer, suggested that quarterbacks should be more responsible for their actions while appearing on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Tuesday (December 3), claiming “nobody wants to see anybody get hurt, but it is also the reality of a very physical sport that we play.”
“Defensive players have to be aggressive. That’s their nature. I was trying to be aggressive on offense, we tried to block aggressively, and at the same time the defense tries to tackle aggressively,” Brady said. “I don’t know, there’s an aspect to me that I think the quarterbacks need to take better care of themselves. I see [Buffalo Bills quarterback] Josh Allen run it a lot, I see [Baltimore Ravens quarterback] Lamar Jackson run it a lot — and it’s a great skillset to have. A lot of times I wish I had that skillset.
“At the same time, when you run you put yourself in a lot of danger. And when you do that I don’t think the onus of protecting an offensive quarterback who’s running should be on a defensive player. I don’t think that’s really fair to the defense.”
Al-Shaair was suspended without pay for three games for the hit on Lawrence during Sunday's (December 1) game at EverBank Stadium, National Football League announced on Tuesday (December 3).
"Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans has been suspended without pay for three games for repeated violations of rules intended to protect the health and safety of players and promote sportsmanship, including during Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars," the league said in its news release announcing Al-Shaair's suspension.
Al-Shaair hit Lawrence while the quarterback was sliding, which left him in a defenseless position, during the second quarter of Sunday's game. The incident resulted in a skirmish between the two teams and Al-Shaair being ejected.
Lawrence was down on the field for several minutes before being helped up, driven off in a cart and later ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion.
“I’ve always played the game as hard as I could," Al-Shaair wrote. "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 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," he added. "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.’"
Al-Shaair has been fined multiple times for on-field incidents in 2024, which included a late hit on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard on November 24, as well as throwing a punch at Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson on September 15.
Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, signed a five-year, $275 million extension with the Jaguars in June. The former Clemson standout has gone 2-8 as a starter and thrown for 2,045 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2024.