Despite the team being in the midst of a second straight season without the playoffs, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is interested in staying with the Tennessee Titans after this season.
The Titans signed Al-Shaair in free agency last offseason, giving him the first opportunity of his career to be an unquestioned starter — and the former San Francisco 49er has made the most of his opportunity, putting together a solid season in the two-tone blue.
But Al-Shaair’s contract was only for one year, which means he’ll be a free agent once again in 2024. However, the Florida Atlantic product isn’t looking to go anywhere.
“I would love to be back with the Tennessee Titans next season,” he said to Justin Melo, via All Titans. “We’ll see how everything unfolds. I would love to be here. I’ve really enjoyed my time in Nashville. The people here, it’s more of a southern background. It’s what I’m used to I guess. The people aren’t as mean as they were in California (laughs).
“Nashville is closer to home for me. I feel like I’ve started to build a new home here. I would love to be back with the Titans.”
Al-Shaair didn’t expect to end up with the Titans upon hitting free agency, but that all changed when a familiar face reached out to him and his agent.
“Initially, I wasn’t looking at Tennessee as a place I was probably going to end up in. That changed when Ran Carthon reached out to me and my agent,” Al-Shaair said. “We started talking back and forth after the first day of free agency. It ended up working out perfectly. Ran and I have known each other since I was a rookie in San Francisco. He used to help me out a lot out there.”
“We always had a really good relationship and connection,” he added. “Me coming to Tennessee, Ran Carthon made the transition 100 percent smoother.”
As far as his relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel is concerned, Al-Shaair had nothing but positive things to say and called the experience playing under him “great.”
“It’s been great,” he said. “Mike Vrabel is a very tedious person. Tedious is the best word I can think of to describe how he goes about his business (laughs). He leaves no stone unturned. That’s something I admire about him. You’ll see him coaching up quarterbacks and receivers, and then he’ll head over to the other side and coach up the linebackers and cornerbacks.
“It’s almost like he has a deep rooted knowledge of everything that’s going on. It’s challenged me as a player to be better. I have to do a little bit more. It’s honestly been great.”
Al-Shaair isn’t the only Titans defender to express his desire to return to Nashville, as defensive lineman Denico Autry also made it clear he’s interested in coming back.
After the season both Al-Shaair and Autry have had, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see both back with the Titans in 2024.
