Rashid Shaheed Bio
Rashid Khalil Shaheed (born August 31, 1998) is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Weber State before signing with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2022, where he quickly emerged as one of the league’s most electric playmakers on offense and special teams.
Known for his elite speed and explosiveness in the return game, Shaheed earned first-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, establishing himself as a dangerous dual threat. After a knee injury cut his 2024 campaign short, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in November 2025 and earned his second Pro Bowl nod later that season.
Early Life and Background
Rashid Khalil Shaheed was born on August 31, 1998, in Phoenix, Arizona. He grew up in the San Diego area of California, where he attended Mt. Carmel High School from 2013 to 2016. At Mt. Carmel, Shaheed began developing the speed and big-play ability that would later define his professional career, lining up as a wide receiver and returning kicks for the Sundevils.
Coming out of high school, Shaheed was not heavily recruited by major college programs, but his performance at the prep level was enough to earn him an opportunity at the collegiate level. He chose to continue his football career at Weber State University, a program competing in the Big Sky Conference at the FCS level, where he would go on to rewrite portions of the school’s record books.
Path to American Football
Shaheed joined the Weber State Wildcats in 2017 and immediately began showcasing his athletic profile as a returner and receiver. Over five seasons with the program from 2017 to 2021, he developed into the most decorated special teams player in school history, becoming the only player in Weber State history to earn All-American honors four times. His kickoff return production was historic, as he set the FCS all-time record for career kickoff return touchdowns with seven, including a 100-yard return in the Wildcats’ 2021 win over Northern Arizona.
Beyond his work in the return game, Shaheed finished his collegiate career with 5,478 all-purpose yards, the third-most in Weber State history. He also ended his time with the program ranked seventh in career receiving yards (2,178 yards and 18 touchdowns) and tenth in receptions (147), while averaging 29.1 yards per kickoff return and finishing third in career punt return yardage. Following the 2021 season, Shaheed declared for the 2022 NFL Draft but went undrafted, eventually signing with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent on May 2, 2022.
Rashid Shaheed Career
Early Career (2022)
Shaheed signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2022. After a brief stint on the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster on October 15, 2022, and made an immediate impact the following day. In his NFL debut on October 16, 2022, he scored on a 44-yard rushing touchdown on his very first career touch, announcing himself to the league in emphatic fashion.
Just four days later, on October 20 against the Arizona Cardinals, Shaheed caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andy Dalton, marking his first career reception. Through the back half of his rookie season, he wore jersey number 89 and demonstrated the game-breaking speed that would soon make him a central figure in New Orleans’ offensive and special teams game plans.
New Orleans Saints Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Entering the 2023 season, Shaheed switched from number 89 to number 22 and immediately elevated his production. In Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts, he delivered a career-best performance, hauling in three receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown in a 38–27 victory. His dynamic play on offense and special teams earned him widespread recognition, and on January 3, 2024, it was announced that Shaheed had been selected to the 2024 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Florida. He was also named first-team All-Pro as a returner, cementing his status among the league’s elite special teams threats.
Heading into 2024, the Saints tendered Shaheed as an exclusive rights free agent in March, and on July 20, 2024, he agreed to a one-year, $5.2 million contract extension with the team. However, his season was cut short on October 17, 2024, when he was placed on injured reserve after undergoing season-ending knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. At the time of the injury, Shaheed led the league with a 15.9-yard punt return average, underscoring how impactful his presence had been for New Orleans.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2025–Present)
On November 4, 2025, Shaheed was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for 2026 fourth and fifth-round draft picks, beginning a new chapter of his career. He wasted little time making his mark in the Pacific Northwest, as in Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons he opened the second half with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the performance. The play reaffirmed his reputation as one of the most dangerous returners in professional football.
On December 23, 2025, it was announced that Shaheed had earned his second career Pro Bowl selection as a kick returner. His blend of speed, vision, and finishing ability has provided Seattle with a high-impact special teams weapon and an additional deep-threat option on offense, giving the Seahawks a dynamic playmaker for the stretch run of the season and beyond.
Driving Style and Strengths
Shaheed’s game is built around track-level speed, sharp cuts, and the ability to accelerate in open space, traits that make him a constant threat to score whenever he touches the ball. He excels particularly as a kick and punt returner, where his vision and burst allow him to flip field position in a single play. As a receiver, he stretches defenses vertically and turns short throws into long gains with his yards-after-catch ability.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Shaheed’s 44-yard rushing touchdown on his first NFL touch in 2022 and his 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in 2025 stand out as career-defining plays. He is the only player in Weber State history to earn All-American honors four times and set the FCS all-time record with seven career kickoff return touchdowns, milestones that highlight his impact at every level of the sport.
Rashid Shaheed Career Wins
Rashid Shaheed has compiled an impressive résumé of individual accolades in just a few NFL seasons, headlined by a first-team All-Pro selection and two Pro Bowl nods. His biggest victories have come in the return game, where his explosive plays have repeatedly swung momentum for his teams. Below is a summary of his most notable honors and signature performances.
NFL Highlights
Shaheed was named first-team All-Pro in 2023 and earned Pro Bowl selections in 2023 and 2025. He was also named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 14 of the 2025 season after his 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons.
Other Wins and Performances
At Weber State, Shaheed was a four-time All-American, the only player in school history to achieve that distinction, and he set the FCS all-time record for career kickoff return touchdowns with seven. He finished his collegiate career ranked third in Weber State history with 5,478 all-purpose yards, while also placing seventh in receiving yards (2,178) and tenth in receptions (147).
Rashid Shaheed Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Rashid Shaheed’s immediate family and parental background is limited, and specific details about relatives are not widely documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Shaheed keeps much of his personal life private, and details about a spouse or children have not been publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a dramatic turning point in Rashid Shaheed’s career. After beginning the year with the New Orleans Saints, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks on November 4, 2025, in exchange for 2026 fourth and fifth-round draft picks. The midseason move gave him a fresh opportunity to showcase his elite return skills on a contending roster, and he responded almost immediately with one of the most explosive plays of his career.
In Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons, Shaheed returned the second-half opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors and reminding the league of his rare game-breaking speed. His impact on field position and scoring continued to grow as the season progressed, providing Seattle’s coaching staff with a reliable big-play weapon in all three phases.
On December 23, 2025, it was announced that Shaheed had been selected to his second career Pro Bowl as a kick returner, capping a resurgent year following his 2024 knee injury. With momentum on his side and a full offseason ahead in Seattle, Shaheed enters 2026 as a core special teams piece and an ascending offensive weapon for the Seahawks.