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Pro Owls in Playoffs
1/10/2026 10:32:00 AM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – With the 2025-26 NFL Playoffs starting, three former Florida Atlantic football players are on an active roster, all participating in Monday Night's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. and will air on ABC and ESPN.
The No. 4-seed Texans' linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair as well as tight end Harrison Bryant will host the No. 5-seed Steelers with cornerback James Pierre.
Al-Shaair, a team captain, manned the middle of a Houston defense that finished No. 1 in yards allowed and tallied a team-high 103 tackles. He earned his first Pro Bowl appearance and is the club winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. His former Owl-turned-NFL teammate Bryant made four starts on offense.
Pierre took over as a starting cornerback for the Steelers late in the season and totaled a career high in pass deflections with 11 and added an interception. He also recorded his first career touchdown on a 34-yard fumble return.
After successful collegiate careers with the Owls, with each part of a conference-champion-winning team, the trio will look to carry over their success into the postseason.
Three former Florida Atlantic players are also part of a playoff team as part of its practice squad: Evan Anderson (San Francisco 49ers), Federico Maranges (Seattle Seahawks), and Brandon Walton (Carolina Panthers).
FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
The No. 4-seed Texans' linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair as well as tight end Harrison Bryant will host the No. 5-seed Steelers with cornerback James Pierre.
Al-Shaair, a team captain, manned the middle of a Houston defense that finished No. 1 in yards allowed and tallied a team-high 103 tackles. He earned his first Pro Bowl appearance and is the club winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. His former Owl-turned-NFL teammate Bryant made four starts on offense.
Pierre took over as a starting cornerback for the Steelers late in the season and totaled a career high in pass deflections with 11 and added an interception. He also recorded his first career touchdown on a 34-yard fumble return.
After successful collegiate careers with the Owls, with each part of a conference-champion-winning team, the trio will look to carry over their success into the postseason.
Three former Florida Atlantic players are also part of a playoff team as part of its practice squad: Evan Anderson (San Francisco 49ers), Federico Maranges (Seattle Seahawks), and Brandon Walton (Carolina Panthers).
FOLLOW THE TEAM
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
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