Tennessee Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair grew up in the Tampa Bay area and struggled with homelessness when he was younger, so Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers meant a little bit more.
The game may not have gone the way he wanted, but Al-Shaair got to share the field with someone who he grew up idolizing, Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans, who has been a superstar in that city for the last decade.
The Florida Atlantic product told Evans he used to admire the Bucs legend from afar during his struggles with homelessness growing up.
NFL Films caught the exchange between the two where Al-Shaair finally had the chance to let one of his idols know what type of impact he had on his life.
Check out the heartwarming exchange between the Bucs wide receiver and the Titans linebacker:
.@Titans LB Azeez Al-Shaair struggled with homelessness growing up in the Tampa Bay area.
He got the opportunity to tell @MikeEvans13_ that he grew up watching him and reflect on how far he's come. ❤️🙏 @A_train2_ pic.twitter.com/3scQBesDoK
— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2023
These are the types of moments that are simply bigger than football.
As disgusted as the Titans’ fanbase rightfully is with the on-field product, the adversity that many of the players had to overcome just to step foot on that field far outweighs any final score.
Regardless of what team you prefer, stories like these are what truly make the game special.
