Al-Shaair, a linebacker for the Houston Texans, was fined $11,492 in Week 1 when he inscribed the name of slain Palestinian girl Hind Rajab on his eyeblack to highlight her death during a bombing in Gaza by the Israeli Defense Force.The NFL prohibits the display of personal messages by players throughout game day.NFL FINES PLAYER NICKNAMED 'JUICE' $14,926 FOR USING A DRINKING CELEBRATION, CALLING IT OFFENSIVEAzeez al-Shaair of the Houston Texans reacts in a team huddle before an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium on Sept.20, 2026, in Houston, Texas.
(Getty Images)Al-Shaair, who is Muslim, was undeterred by the cost of the Week 1 fine because he came out for warmups before the Week 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals wearing the name of another Palestinian girl – Wafaa Akila – on his eyeblack.The eyeblack inscription remained even when the game began but then an NFL official spotted it, according to the league source, and informed the Texans and Al-Shaair he must remove it or he'd be removed from the game altogether.NEW NFL FINE SCHEDULE IS GOING TO A POINT SYSTEM THAT COULD LEAD TO SUSPENSIONS BUT ALSO REFUNDSThe threat of not being able to play apparently convinced Al-Shaair to do something the threat of being fined again obviously did not.He removed the eyeblack and played the entire rest of the game without any eyeblack.Azeez Al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans looks on from the sideline during the national anthem prior to an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Jan.
12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.(Cooper Neill/Getty Images)The threat of fines is not important to Al-Shaair.
He signed a three-year contract extension worth $54 million in April.He also did not appeal last week's fine.NBA STAR KYRIE IRVING JUMPS INTO NFL DRAMA, OFFERS TO PAY PLAYER'S FINE FOR GAZA-THEMED EYE BLACK"What’s a life worth?" Al-Shaair told reporters last week when questioned about the fine and his an...