Azeez Al-Shaair, an American professional football linebacker for the Houston Texans of the NFL, is making his parents, especially his mother, proud of his achievements.
NFL star Azeez Al-Shaair was born on August 4, 1997, to Muslim parents James Tokley Jr in Tampa, Florida, and Naadhirah Lennon.
His parents converted to Islam prior to his birth, and they took the name Al-Shaair, which means “Son of a poet” in Arabic.
Highlights
- Azeez Al-Shaair’s parents, James Tokley Jr. and Naadhriah Lennon divorced when he was in second grade.
- His parents converted to Islam and took the name Al-Shaair, the son of the poet, in Arabic.
- Azeez has seven siblings. A tragic fire incident made him and his family homeless when he was 15.
Furthermore, born into an average household, Azeez Al-Shaair moved back and forth between Tampa and Saudi Arabia with his parents and siblings because his father worked as an English instructor in Jeddah, a city in Saudi Arabia, for two years.
Unfortunately, his father, James Tokley Jr., separated from his mother, Naadhriah Lennon, when Azeez was in second grade, leaving his mother to raise the children alone.
Similarly, Azeez’s life changed after his parents divorced, forcing him, his seven siblings, and his mother to live in Section 8.
Al-Shaair often wore dirty clothes to school, had few friends, and stole hot fries, Cheetos, and Kit Kats from Dollar Tree for dinner. He even stole bikes and phones and sold them to pawn shops.
Moreover, as the family’s second eldest child, Azeez started taking responsibility for his family from a very young age. Sometimes, he and his siblings stand in front of local businesses and hold their helmets for donations to help his mother.
However, it didn’t take Azeez long to build his football career, become one of the NFL’s renowned players, and make his mother, Naadhirah, proud, as she made significant sacrifices to support her son’s career.
Azeez Al-Shaair And His Family Became Homeless After A Tragic Fire Incident
Azeez Al-Shaair and his siblings faced a tragic experience when the NFL star was just 15 year-old and a high school sophomore back in 2012.
Moreover, one of his sisters had been cooling chicken in a frying pan and accidentally left the stove on when she left for work in the morning.
Azeez Al-Shaair, his two younger brothers, and his niece were the only people sleeping in the house when the sound of a smoke detector woke him up.
Likewise, a fire started as a result of the power outages. He went down the hallway into the living room, through the smoke, to the kitchen, and tried putting out the fire, but he couldn’t do it alone.
The flames were so big that everything started to fall down to the cabinets. However, Al-Shaair showed his bravery and rushed his younger brothers and niece into the house, risking his own life.
Although nothing happened to anyone, the home owned by his grandmother consisted of a two-bedroom was burned down, making him and his family homeless.
Azeez, his mother, and siblings spent endless nights on friends’ couches in extended-stay motels.
Azeez Al-Shaair’s Mother, Naadhirah Lennon, Dreamed Of Being A Great Dancer!
Naadhirah Lennon is not just a great mother to her children; she is an exceptional dancer.
Moreover, Naadhirah Lennon grew up a dancer; she dreamed of being the next Debbie Allen from a young age.
She also attended the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York.
However, she couldn’t follow her passion for dance, and her dream of being a professional dancer was buried under the pressure of her parents, who didn’t support her.
Despite being unable to pursue her dreams, when Azeez begged her to let him play football when he was 12, she couldn’t stop him from pursuing his career in sports and supported him through all his ups and downs.
Additional Information
- Azeez Al-Shaair’s grandfather, James Tokley Sr., was the first poet Laureate of Tampa and Hillsborough County and held his position for over thirty years.
- He hasn’t talked to his father, James Tokely Jr., since he was 13.
- Azzez Al-Shaair began his professional career with the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL on April 27, 2019.
- NFL recently suspended him for three games due to repeated violations of player safety rules.
