Azeez Al-Shaair punches Bears player to start massive scrum following Caleb Williams tackle, no ejections levied

The Houston Texans and Chicago Bears game on Sunday Night Football got chippy with 7:07 left in the third quarter. There was a hard tackle on Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, sending the play into the Bears sideline. Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair absolutely drilled Williams. And for whatever the reason, the Texans linebacker decided to swing on a Bears player (Roschon Johnson) once he got up in the middle of a crowd of Bears.

Here’s video of the play.

Azeez Al-Shaair punches a Bears player on the sideline after a sideline hit on Caleb Williams. Cannot be flagged. #NFL #bears pic.twitter.com/trnidiIon7

— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) September 16, 2024

It’s important to note that no players were ejected on the play. Despite the punch being thrown right in front of a game official. That’s really, really surprising.

Following the play, the NBC broadcast crew discussed why no players were ejected, even though a punch was clearly thrown.

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Sunday Night Football broadcast on the Bears-Texans scrum

Mike Tirico: “Terry, can they throw a flag on that punch by replay?”

Terry McAulay: “New York cannot get involved in that because no flag was thrown on the play. They cannot create a foul for that punch. That will have to come during the week through discipline. No foul can be called here by New York.”

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Cris Collinsworth: “Huge break because, Terry, would he have been thrown out of the game for that?”

McAulay: “No question, that’s clearly a punch. That’s a common way to get thrown out of the game, just to throw a punch in someone’s face.”

Regardless, Al-Shaair is likely to face a pretty hefty fine from league officials. He was incredibly lucky to not get ejected.

The Bears and Texans game was still highly entertaining on Sunday night. The Texans ended up winning 19-13, thanks in large part to the Houston defense giving Caleb Williams plenty of problems in the pocket. They pressured him for much of the second half, and the former USC star took some serious shots from the Texans defense. Clearly, the Bears’ offensive line is something they’ll need to upgrade as soon as possible.

Houston quarterback CJ Stroud completed 23 of 36 passes for 260 yards, while tossing in one touchdown and no interception. Texans receiver Nico Collins got the game ball. He certainly earned it, hauling in eight catches for 135 yards and one touchdown.

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp also contributed to this article.