The NFL community might not be the biggest fan of who the Houston Texans dubbed for the league’s highest honor, but those who call NRG Stadium home on Sundays couldn’t agree more with the selection. The Texans named linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair as their representative for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award on Thursday. Al-Shaair will be one of 31 recipients to earn the title of the league’s highest-respected player. “Azeez represents everything it means to be a Houston Texan,” Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair said. “His leadership and generosity shine in everything he does, whether he’s elevating our defense on the field or investing his time and heart into others off the field. Azeez makes our team and our community better, and we’re incredibly proud to recognize him as our Walter Payton Man of the Year.”A true leader on and off the field🤘⁰⁰We’re proud to celebrate Azeez Al-Shaair, our Club Winner for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award ❤️⁰⁰#WPMOYChallenge Al-Shaair pic.twitter.com/CkBs5Nvy6E— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 4, 2025Al-Shaair, the Texans’ longtime team captain, caught negative pushback last season after being suspended for three games last year for his hit against Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. A fight broke out on the field while Al-Shaair was ejected, but made sure to get his thoughts across before leaving the field. Since then, Al-Shaair has been considered one of the biggest villains in the sport, having been booed in several stadiums whenever his number is called. But the Texans know Al-Shaair for his classy demeanor in the community and leadership in the locker room. Al-Shaair has spent time this season working with 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.”It means everything to me because when I see these kids, I just see myself,” Al-Shaair said in a team statement. “As a kid, I always wished I had the opportunity to meet an NFL player to be inspired by. I went through the same highs and lows to get to where I am today, but I’m here because of all the hard work and things I endured to get here. I just want to give people hope.”The moment Azeez found out he was our Walter Payton Man of the Year Club Winner 🎥#WPMOYChallenge Al-Shaair pic.twitter.com/p1yMySNlY4— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 4, 2025Each team’s winner will be honored at the Super Bowl. 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. 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, until voting ends on Jan. 5, 2026. The league-wide winner, which will be announced during NFL Honors on Feb. 5, will wear the Walter Payton Man of the Year patch on their jersey for the rest of their career and receive up to $250,000 for the charity of their choice.This season, Al-Shaair has recorded 79 tackles, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble. Should Al-Shaair win the honor, he would become the second Texans player to be bestowed the award, joining three-time Defensive Player of the Year and Ring of Honor nominee J.J. Watt, who won the title in 2017. For more information on the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, visit www.NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans name LB Azeez Al-Shaair Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.