Tom Brady has stepped into the conversation surrounding the controversial hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, offering a defense of Al-Shaair that has stirred even more debate among football fans and analysts.
The incident took place during Sunday’s matchup between the Jaguars and the Texans, where Al-Shaair’s late hit on Lawrence sparked outrage. Lawrence, who was attempting to slide and end the play, was hit with an elbow by Al-Shaair, leaving him motionless on the field. The late hit immediately set off a bench-clearing brawl, with Jaguars players and staff rushing to defend their quarterback. The incident resulted in a chaotic scene, with tempers flaring on both sides.
Following the altercation, the NFL announced on Tuesday that Al-Shaair would be suspended for three games, citing a “lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football” in their official statement. The league’s decision drew sharp criticism from Texans’ personnel, with Al-Shaair’s suspension labeled as overly harsh by some.
Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, shared his thoughts on the situation during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. Brady, now retired, has frequently provided commentary on the game, and this time he didn’t shy away from giving a controversial take on the Al-Shaair hit and the state of quarterback safety in the NFL.
Brady argued that while no one wants to see a player injured, especially a high-profile quarterback like Trevor Lawrence, defensive players should not bear the full responsibility for such outcomes. According to Brady, Lawrence’s decision to run with the football inherently put him in a vulnerable position. He emphasized that quarterbacks who choose to leave the pocket and run downfield must be prepared for the physical risks that come with it.
“The only aspect that I think is very challenging, and certainly for Trevor Lawrence, is that nobody wants to see anybody get hurt, but it is also the reality of a very physical sport that we play,” Brady said. “Defensive players have to be aggressive. That’s their nature. I was trying to be aggressive on offense, we tried to block aggressively, and at the same time, the defense tries to tackle aggressively.”
Brady further explained that he believes quarterbacks need to take better care of themselves when running the football. He specifically mentioned players like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, who are known for their ability to run and create plays with their legs. Brady acknowledged that while running is an asset, it also puts quarterbacks at a much higher risk of injury.
“At the same time, when you run, you put yourself in a lot of danger. And when you do that, I don’t think the onus of protecting an offensive quarterback who’s running should be on a defensive player. I don’t think that’s really fair to the defense,” Brady argued.
He also raised the issue of quarterbacks executing late slides, which, in his opinion, should be addressed by the league. Brady suggested that penalties should be considered not just for defensive players who make hits, but also for quarterbacks who make dangerous late slides, thereby creating confusion for defenders trying to make a play.
“There’s more designed runs for quarterbacks now than ever before in the history of the NFL,” Brady said. “So are we really trying to protect quarterbacks? Because if you are trying to through the rules, then why are the offensive coordinators not protecting their quarterbacks by keeping them out of the pocket and not designing as many quarterback runs?”
He continued, “I think it’s gone to a point where everyone will label a certain player as a dirty player, and I don’t like that one bit. Maybe they should fine or penalize a quarterback for sliding late and say, ‘If we don’t want these hits to take place, we’ve got to penalize the offense and the defense rather than just penalize a defensive player for every single play that happens when there’s a hit on a quarterback.’”
Brady’s comments were echoed by Texans general manager Nick Caserio, who came out with a fiery response to the NFL’s ruling on Al-Shaair. Caserio took a strong stance against the suspension, calling the league’s decision “hypocritical” and “embarrassing” during an impassioned press conference on Tuesday.
Caserio argued that the portrayal of Al-Shaair as lacking sportsmanship was unfair and did not align with the player’s history. He spoke highly of Al-Shaair’s character and commitment to the team, insisting that the linebacker’s intentions were not malicious.
“The picture that’s been painted about Azeez, his intentions, who he is as a person… I mean quite frankly, it’s bulls***,” Caserio said in frustration. “And it’s unfair to the individual, it’s unfair to the organization. Nobody embodies our program more than Azeez; what he’s about, what he’s been through… you all know his story. There’s not a more selfless individual who’s more about the team and earned the respect that represents everything we want this program to be about.”
Caserio also took aim at the NFL for what he perceived as inconsistency in their policies, especially when it comes to player welfare and support. He criticized the league for banning Al-Shaair from contact with the team during his suspension, calling it hypocritical in light of the league’s stated commitment to player well-being.
“If the league says they care about the well-being of their players, and I would say at a time like this Azeez is probably going through a lot of things, we can’t even provide support on a multitude of levels,” Caserio added. “So it’s a little bit hypocritical to say, ‘We want to support the players, but do you know what, the organization can’t have contact with him for four weeks.’ Ok, so what do you want [him] to do, just go and float by himself?”
The controversy has brought up broader questions about how the NFL enforces its safety rules and the double standards that may exist for quarterbacks compared to defensive players.
Brady’s comments highlight the challenges defenders face in today’s NFL, where the rules are increasingly designed to protect quarterbacks, yet offensive coordinators continue to expose them to hits by calling designed runs.
For Brady, the issue is not about condoning unnecessary roughness, but about striking a balance between offensive creativity and fairness to defenders who are simply playing the game as it was intended. Meanwhile, Caserio’s response points to deeper frustrations within NFL teams regarding perceived inconsistencies in rule enforcement and the narrative that often surrounds physical plays on quarterbacks.
As the Texans prepare to move forward without Al-Shaair for the next three games, the league’s decision and the resulting backlash from figures like Tom Brady and Nick Caserio have ignited a conversation about what fair play looks like in a league that’s continually evolving to prioritize player safety.
The focus remains on how the NFL can ensure the safety of all its players—offensive and defensive alike—while maintaining the aggressive, physical nature that has defined the game for decades.
