Marissa Lawrence, wife of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, has spoken out after her husband was subjected to a brutal hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during Sunday’s game. The incident occurred during Jacksonville’s 23-20 loss to the Texans, when Lawrence was left lying motionless on the turf following a vicious hit from Al-Shaair.
The Texans linebacker slammed into Lawrence elbow-first, even though the Jaguars quarterback had already slid to give himself up on the play. The hit led to a bench-clearing brawl, with Jaguars players expressing their anger at the dangerous challenge. Al-Shaair was ejected from the game shortly after the incident.
Following the game, Lawrence, who had been carted off the field, reassured fans that he was recovering well and was feeling better at home. The following morning, Marissa Lawrence, who has been married to Trevor for the past three years, released her own statement, thanking fans for their support and expressing her focus on her husband’s health.
“Thank you for all of the texts and prayers,” Marissa wrote in a post on her Instagram story. “Just taking time to make sure he’s okay and get healthy, but we appreciate all of the love and support.” Her heartfelt message echoed the gratitude that Trevor expressed and emphasized that his health is her top priority.
Trevor and Marissa’s relationship began back in 2016, and the couple became engaged in 2020 before tying the knot in 2021. This past summer, they announced that they are expecting their first child together—a baby girl. The news of their growing family has made the recent events even more poignant, as Marissa’s primary concern is ensuring Trevor is healthy for both his career and their family.
Lawrence, who recently signed a massive five-year, $275 million contract extension with the Jaguars, suffered a concussion due to the illegal hit from Al-Shaair. The injury comes at a crucial time in the season, and the Jaguars now face uncertainty regarding the availability of their star quarterback. The incident has also brought into focus the importance of protecting players and ensuring that dangerous hits are appropriately penalized.
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Amid the backlash, Azeez Al-Shaair released a statement on Monday morning, attempting to clarify the situation and apologize for the hit. He stressed that he only saw Lawrence begin to slide when it was “too late” and insisted that he never intended to harm the quarterback.
“I’ve always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intent to harm anyone, and anybody that knows me knows that,” Al-Shaair wrote. “My goal is to hit you as hard as I can, then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play. And when the game is over, go home to your family unharmed because it’s not personal—it’s just competition! We both are trying to do the same thing, which is provide for our families!”
He continued, “I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor, I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening. Before the game, we spoke, and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them, especially one that’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.'”
Al-Shaair also addressed the criticism he received from fans and the media, particularly accusations of malicious intent. “To the rest of his teammates, I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that,” he said. “To the rest of the people who’ve called me every single name in the book—from reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villain, to racist and Islamophobic fans and people—you don’t know my heart nor my character, which I don’t need to prove to any of you. God knows my intentions, and anyone who has ever been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart.”
In addition to the controversy surrounding the hit, Al-Shaair also found himself under scrutiny for a political message written on his cleats during the game.
The Tampa-born linebacker, who is a practicing Muslim, wore cleats adorned with the words “Free” in red and green, referencing the colors of Palestine, alongside additional messages.
On one cleat, it read: “Surely to Allah we belong, and to Him we will all return,” while the other cleat featured statistics about the ongoing conflict, stating: “At least 41,788 Palestinians killed. 10,000+ estimated to be under the rubble. 96,794 wounded.” These messages sparked a significant reaction online, with fans divided over the use of the platform for political expression.
Some fans were highly critical, taking to social media to voice their displeasure. “Ooh now I really hate him,” one fan wrote, while others called for the NFL to suspend Al-Shaair. One right-wing commentator went as far as demanding that fans “boycott the NFL,” accusing Al-Shaair of promoting a “pro-terrorism message” on his cleats.
However, there were also those who defended the linebacker, highlighting his right to express his beliefs. “Religion of peace,” one supporter wrote.
The incident involving Trevor Lawrence and the subsequent controversy surrounding Al-Shaair have added layers of complexity to an already tense game.
For the Jaguars, the priority is now the health of their star quarterback, while the Texans face increased scrutiny over both Al-Shaair’s actions on the field and his political statements.
With emotions running high, the NFL may soon find itself navigating both player safety issues and debates over freedom of expression in the league.
