The NFL seems to be genuinely cracking down on unapproved messages by players, as Azeez Al-Shaair found out the hard way.
Al-Shaair, a Houston Texans linebacker, was fined $11,492 in Week 1 after “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 Forces,” according to Fox News’ Outkick. This violated the league’s prohibition against personal messages by players on game day, resulting in the fine.
It clearly wasn’t enough of a deterrent for the linebacker, though, as he attempted the same stunt the next week. The Muslim player attempted to inscribe Wafaa Akila, the name of another Palestinian girl, but was quickly met with a stronger potential punishment.
“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,” Outkick wrote. “The 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.”
It makes sense that a monetary punishment would mean nothing to Al-Shaair, as he signed a $54 million, three-year contract extension earlier this year. He also signalled as much when questioned by reporters last week.
“What’s a life worth? Is a life worth $11,000? I think it’s priceless. So, to sit there and say that, ‘Oh man, the money’ and whatever, that wasn’t relevant to me,” he stated.
It appears that the league is coming down equally on players who share messages, regardless of political leaning.
As BizPac Review previously reported, Arizona Cardinals backup cornerback Kei’Trel Clark was fined $6,651 for inscribing “Glory be to God” on his eyeblack before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers this month.
“During the Arizona Cardinals-Los Angeles Rams game on September 13, 2026, you were in violation of the NFL Uniform and Equipment Rules,” it reads, according to WFMD. “Specifically, you displayed a personal message on your eyeblack. Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8, Item () of the 2026 Official Playing Rules of the National Football League states that, ‘throughout the period on game day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.’”
“I got to report to God at the end of my days on the day of judgment! I’ll always give God the Glory and out loud. All good,” the player responded.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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