What Rashid Shaheed did for the Seahawks surprised fans quickly

Rashid Shaheed was just one integral piece of the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl run, but his mid-season arrival via trade might just be the most important move the Seahawks made all season, and it made him not just integral but perhaps necessary. 

Could the Seahawks have made their run and won the title without Shaheed? It's very possible, given the trajectory the Seahawks were on before the trade. That said, Shaheed only elevated them higher thanks to his multi-faceted impact. 

Initially brought in to bolster the Seahawks' wide receiving room, Shaheed proved himself more on special teams as a kick returner, and boy, did he shine, especially in the playoffs. Despite only being in Seattle for half a season, his impact was more than enough, even over and above other players in his position group.

Rashid Shaheed leapfrogged other Seattle Seahawks' special teams players in just half a season

Had Shaheed not made his way to Seattle, then Seahawks kicker Jason Myers may have been their most valuable special teams player, and he had every reason to be. Myers was fantastic from beginning to end, scoring the NFL's third-most points in a season in its history, 171, aside from tying his own previous record of nine made 50-yard or more field goals. 

Myers was a deserving candidate, for sure, but Shaheed's impact is virtually undeniable considering his dual role on the Seahawks. Of course, it took a few games for Shaheed to acclimate himself as a wide receiver, catching balls from Sam Darnold. Still, Shaheed ended the season with just 15 catches for 188 yards. 

Next season should see his and Darnold's connection grow. Maybe not to the extent of Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba's on-field connection, but more so to the extent that Shaheed will be expected to be used in his wide receiver role more. 

Of course, just as speedy and elusive as a pass catcher, he may be more of those elements as a kick returner, which is how he impacted the Seahawks so greatly last season. In two regular-season games, Shaheed scored two touchdowns on returns: a 100-yard kick return against the Atlanta Falcons and a 58-yard punt return against the Los Angeles Rams. 

The Seahawks would win both games, but it didn't stop there. In the playoffs, in the divisional round against their NFC West rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, Shaheed ripped off an electric 95-yard opening kickoff return to the end zone. From there, the Seahawks crushed the 49ers, moving on to their eventual Super Bowl win after beating the Rams. 

The 12's in Seattle are already loud, but Shaheed gave them more reason to be even louder, and that will carry on into the 2026-27 season, now that Shaheed is locked up for three more years. Shaheed continued to come up clutch when the Seahawks needed a jolt or a spark. That's how electrifying Shaheed can be. 

Upon entering the NFL, Shaheed recorded 44-yard and 53-yard touchdowns on his first two touches with the New Orleans Saints. He was the only NFL player to have a punt return touchdown in both 2023 and 2024, on top of that. Shaheed is one of the NFL's most dangerous return men, and he could go down as one of the best to ever do it, given his young age and his trajectory. 

The Seahawks had to pay him; they need him, after what he gave them in just nine regular-season games and three playoff games. Shaheed's runway in Seattle is long, and he's certainly their biggest threat on special teams. Imagine how lethal he will be when the Seahawks unlock his wide receiver capabilities?