HOUSTON, Texas — Houston Texans teammates Will Anderson Jr. and Azeez Al-Shaair say their friendship is grounded in faith, bridging their Christian and Muslim beliefs.
Anderson, a defensive end and first-team AP All-Pro, and Al-Shaair, a linebacker and first-time Pro Bowler leading the team with 103 tackles, meet privately before games to discuss their faith and focus on their purpose on and off the field.
“I’m a Christian through and through, but I also think it’s very important to see how other people … think and how they feel about certain things,” Anderson said. Al-Shaair added, “I’m open about my faith and I use my faith and the things I’ve experienced in conversations with guys and the same for him … it just worked out perfectly.”
The players said their conversations emphasize shared values, moral guidance, and support for one another, helping them handle the pressures of the NFL. Anderson said the talks boost their mindset before games.
“Whether it’s a story from the Quran or a story from the Bible, it really doesn’t matter because we’re both sharing our faith and we both know who we believe in, which is God,” Anderson said.
The Texans will rely on the pair as captains of the league’s top-ranked defense in Monday night’s postseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
