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houston texans Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair were brought together by football, but it’s a relationship forged by faith.
Anderson, a Christianityand Alshair, Muslimdid not let religious differences divide them. Instead, they relied on a shared piety, forming a bond through faith that paid off on and off the field.
“I’m a Christian through and through, but I also think it’s important to understand 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 what I’ve been through in talking to other people, and the same goes for him. So, every time we talk, we always hit the same cylinder, like oh my God, this is exactly how I feel… So, I feel like everything is perfect.”
Before leading the Texans’ top defense into the playoffs against the Steelers on Monday night, these captains will find a quiet place away from the chaos of game day to have private conversations to focus and discuss their beliefs. Anderson, who was named to the Associated Press All-Pro first team on Saturday, and Alshair, a first-time Pro Bowler who leads the team with 103 tackles, are aiming to help. Houston Won the first away playoff game.
Anderson said Alshayr gave him motivation from the moment he arrived in Houston before last season. Those pregame chats may be the most meaningful, though.
“I can say the conversations we had before the game really helped me,” Anderson said. “We try not to miss the pregame conversations and that really helps both of us get into that mindset and we both just (know) what we’re doing it for, why we’re doing it and that kind of stuff.”
Despite fundamental differences in their religious beliefs, they all share common values.
“Although Aziz is Muslim and I am Christian, there are many similarities in our beliefs, morals and beliefs,” Anderson said. “Talking to Aziz… it’s a comparison, but it also brings us back to being a moral person… and having great values, and I think the most important thing we talk about is how we treat other people.”
They also exchange stories of faith in their lives and confide in each other personal questions and concerns related to the sports they play.
“Just (approximately) believe God“Trust God, know it’s God’s timing, and really just support each other,” Anderson said. “Whether it’s a story in the Quran or a story in the Bible, it doesn’t matter because we’re all sharing our faith and we all know who we believe in, and that’s God.”
The two were so close that Alshair said it sometimes felt like they were the same person. On a day when both were selected to the Pro Bowl this season, both players noted in separate interviews that the honor meant a lot because they shared it and each mentioned their faith-based relationship.
“But this is how he and I have been since we met,” Alshair said. “It’s like we’re literally inside each other’s heads.”
As a Muslim who grew up primarily in Florida, Alshair maintained ties to Christians throughout his life. That wasn’t the case for Anderson, who grew up Baptist in suburban Atlanta.
“Oh, no, no, no, I didn’t know any Muslims growing up,” Anderson said, laughing.
Anderson said he hadn’t even met a Muslim until he worked out with current Titans linebacker Ali Gay in preparation for the combine. He’s not sure why some people are so reticent about those who don’t share their beliefs, but he finds it enlightening.
Alshair admired Anderson’s efforts to understand his religion, especially because he had met many people in his life who made no effort to understand his religion.
“It’s the coolest thing,” he said. “It’s almost funny when you talk about faith because I tell people, there are a lot of Muslims who know a lot about the Bible, and not a lot of Christians who really know anything about Islam, except for all the Islamophobic…propaganda and stuff like that. People don’t actually understand.”
Although he had many relationships with Christians before his relationship with Anderson, he believes their religious discussions enriched his faith.
“Islam actually encourages people to learn about other religions, other faiths, so it should strengthen your belief in your own faith, but I feel like that’s not always the case,” Shair said. “The coolest part for me and him is that we’re able to draw on knowledge from both faiths. It’s very transparent and open. So we both learn a lot from each other.”
They’ve also supported each other through tough times, especially last season when Alshair was suspended three games for an illegal hit on Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence. In the aftermath of the attack, Alshair dealt with online racist and Islamophobic abuse, which, coupled with his suspension, led him to what he calls “a really dark place.”
Anderson watched Alshair rely heavily on his faith during that time and is overjoyed by how much his friend has changed since that difficult chapter.
“In religion and faith and things like that, it always comes with pain and suffering,” Anderson said. “That’s when I said God does have the final say because the world can persecute you, the world can say all these things about you and look where God has taken him this year.”
In addition to being named to his first Pro Bowl and leading the team in tackles, Alshair was named the Walter Payton Player of the Year Award winner in Houston this season. He can hardly believe how far he has come from last season, when he wasn’t sure if he would ever play football again. He attributes this transformation to his faith.
“That’s the number one reason why I’ve been able to overcome it, go through all the adversity and still come out of it,” he said. “Not just coming out of it, but thriving. I’m a better person now than I was before all of this happened, and I think that’s the biggest blessing.”
At a time of increasing division in the country, these 20-something football players hope more people see things their way.
“If you have compassion and you’re able to be less locked into your own head and your mindset and … just open up, you realize, wow, okay, this makes sense, we’re more similar than we’re different,” Alshair said. “It just makes everything better for everyone.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL