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Owl Alumnus Azeez Al-Shaair Named as Walter Payton Nominee
12/4/2025 12:25:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic alumnus Azeez Al-Shaair has earned the Houston Texans' Man of the Year Club winner and has been nominated for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, presented annually to the most outstanding person in the NFL.
Al-Shaair, who serves as a captain for the Houston Texas, was nominated by the team for the prestigious award. This season Al-Shaair has started and played in 12 games and the linebacker has recorded 79 tackles, while defending seven passes and forcing a fumble. He is a seven-season member of the NFL, also playing for San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans. Like Houston where he is a second-year captain, Al-Shaair also served as a Titans team captain.
While the honor takes into account his play on the field, his action off the field is what matters most. From the moment Al-Shaair arrived in Houston, he immersed himself in serving the local community, first with the United Way, an organization that helped him and his family when he was young. He also visited Covenant House with Special Teams Coordinator Frank Ross and his teammates to provide support and free haircuts to homeless youth and adults, recognized local firefighters on National First Responders Day, celebrated the Texans' Girls Flag Football Program's Houston champions and more. Al-Shaair also serves as a sponsor in the Houston Texans Community Huddle Ticket Program, which gives people who may not otherwise have a chance to attend an NFL game the opportunity to have a unique and special gameday experience. Most recently, Al-Shaair hosted a movie night at NRG Stadium for students from HYPE Freedom School, a nonprofit that provides youth development services that enhance learning opportunities outside of school time for children who need support.
Al-Shaair knows first-hand the struggles many of the country's youth experience and how quickly families can find themselves homeless. That knowledge has driven him to not only better himself, the lives of his family but also those around him.
While at Florida Atlantic, Al-Shaair was honored with multiple awards including the N4A Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award. He etched himself in the FAU record books as an all-time defender despite missing the last half of his senior campaign. Al-Shaair's football career came to life at Florida Atlantic, but his character and willingness to serve was instilled years prior. Read partial story here: ESPN 2018 Feature.
WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. The award was established in 1970 and was renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame running back, Walter Payton. Each team nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community, with one winner selected from the 32 club winners. Each year, club winners are recognized beginning in Week 14 with a WPMOY trophy silhouette helmet decal applied through the end of the season. In addition, all current players who have received this esteemed award are honored with a trophy silhouette patch on the front of their jerseys.
Nationwide and the NFL are proud to recognize these 32 players who are doing so much more than delivering greatness on the field. They are leaders in their community and committed to giving back. The 2025 NFL season marks the 12th year of Nationwide's sponsorship of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. During that time, Nationwide has contributed more than $2.3 million to the charitable foundations represented by the various nominees and winners.
The winner of the award each year receives up to a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice, while all 32 club winners receive up to a $40,000 donation to their charity of choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide Foundation.
The winner of this year's Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide will be announced live at NFL Honors on Thursday, Feb. 5.
VOTING
Fans are encouraged to participate in the annual Charity Challenge, a social media and online contest that allows them to show support for their favorite Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Club Winner. Fans can vote for Al-Shaair on X by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with his last name or by voting directly at NFL.com/ManOfTheYear. The nominee who receives the most collective hashtag mentions and online votes will receive an additional $35,000 donation to the charity of their choice. Charity Challenge voting starts today and is open until Jan. 5, 2026.
FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
Al-Shaair, who serves as a captain for the Houston Texas, was nominated by the team for the prestigious award. This season Al-Shaair has started and played in 12 games and the linebacker has recorded 79 tackles, while defending seven passes and forcing a fumble. He is a seven-season member of the NFL, also playing for San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans. Like Houston where he is a second-year captain, Al-Shaair also served as a Titans team captain.
While the honor takes into account his play on the field, his action off the field is what matters most. From the moment Al-Shaair arrived in Houston, he immersed himself in serving the local community, first with the United Way, an organization that helped him and his family when he was young. He also visited Covenant House with Special Teams Coordinator Frank Ross and his teammates to provide support and free haircuts to homeless youth and adults, recognized local firefighters on National First Responders Day, celebrated the Texans' Girls Flag Football Program's Houston champions and more. Al-Shaair also serves as a sponsor in the Houston Texans Community Huddle Ticket Program, which gives people who may not otherwise have a chance to attend an NFL game the opportunity to have a unique and special gameday experience. Most recently, Al-Shaair hosted a movie night at NRG Stadium for students from HYPE Freedom School, a nonprofit that provides youth development services that enhance learning opportunities outside of school time for children who need support.
Al-Shaair knows first-hand the struggles many of the country's youth experience and how quickly families can find themselves homeless. That knowledge has driven him to not only better himself, the lives of his family but also those around him.
While at Florida Atlantic, Al-Shaair was honored with multiple awards including the N4A Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award. He etched himself in the FAU record books as an all-time defender despite missing the last half of his senior campaign. Al-Shaair's football career came to life at Florida Atlantic, but his character and willingness to serve was instilled years prior. Read partial story here: ESPN 2018 Feature.
WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. The award was established in 1970 and was renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame running back, Walter Payton. Each team nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community, with one winner selected from the 32 club winners. Each year, club winners are recognized beginning in Week 14 with a WPMOY trophy silhouette helmet decal applied through the end of the season. In addition, all current players who have received this esteemed award are honored with a trophy silhouette patch on the front of their jerseys.
Nationwide and the NFL are proud to recognize these 32 players who are doing so much more than delivering greatness on the field. They are leaders in their community and committed to giving back. The 2025 NFL season marks the 12th year of Nationwide's sponsorship of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. During that time, Nationwide has contributed more than $2.3 million to the charitable foundations represented by the various nominees and winners.
The winner of the award each year receives up to a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice, while all 32 club winners receive up to a $40,000 donation to their charity of choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide Foundation.
The winner of this year's Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide will be announced live at NFL Honors on Thursday, Feb. 5.
VOTING
Fans are encouraged to participate in the annual Charity Challenge, a social media and online contest that allows them to show support for their favorite Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Club Winner. Fans can vote for Al-Shaair on X by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with his last name or by voting directly at NFL.com/ManOfTheYear. The nominee who receives the most collective hashtag mentions and online votes will receive an additional $35,000 donation to the charity of their choice. Charity Challenge voting starts today and is open until Jan. 5, 2026.
FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
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