Walter Payton NFL Man of Year nominee lists Kyle Juszczyk as key mentor
Before Azeez Al-Shaair became the star he is today, he was an undrafted rookie free agent with the 49ers.As he’s blossomed into one of the NFL’s top linebackers, Al-Shaair said on the “Green Light Podcast,” hosted by former two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Long, that 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk played a big part in his development.“Kyle Juszczyk is somebody who I owe so much more to,” Al-Shaair said.“I remember in team meetings we sat next to each other, and it’s like, an undrafted rookie linebacker.
“He didn’t have to talk to me or say anything to me, but he poured into me every single chance he got, every day, checking on me, talking to me, trying to help me.”Al-Shaair, a 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, said Juszczyk means the world to him.Recently, Al-Shaair was listed as No.92 of the NFL’s top 100 players from last season after tallying over 100 tackles, with one forced fumble — earning him a three-year, $54 million contract extension with the Texans this past offseason.When Al-Shaair found out he made the cut, marking him as one of the NFL’s best, Juszczyk appeared on the screen and began to talk about what makes his former teammate so special.“I have so much respect for Azeez and how he plays the game,” Juszczyk said at the beginning of the video.
“He plays it so fast, so physically, so aggressively.I feel like that’s the reason why they’ve been so successful this year is because of his leadership and the way he plays football.”Al-Shaair said seeing his former mentor pop up on the screen was a surreal moment for him because of how much belief Juszczyk poured into him.Juszczyk and Al-Shaair were teammates for four years with the 49ers until Al-Shaair departed ahead of the 2023 season and signed a one-year deal with the Titans, where he finished as a top-five leader in tackles, tallying 163.Juszczyk has emerged as one of the most respected players in the 49ers’ locker room.
He’s been selected as a tea...