Seahawks Re-Sign Star Returner Rashid Shaheed to 3-Year Deal

The dynamic playmaker will remain in Seattle after a standout 2025 season.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with wide receiver and return specialist Rashid Shaheed, keeping the 28-year-old game-breaking talent in the Pacific Northwest. Shaheed, who was acquired from the New Orleans Saints midway through the 2025 season, made an immediate impact as both a receiver and returner, scoring three return touchdowns including one in the playoffs.

Why it matters

Shaheed's ability to flip field position and score on special teams was a key factor in the Seahawks' late-season surge and playoff run in 2025. Retaining his services was a priority for the team, which entered the offseason with ample salary cap space to invest in core players.

The details

Shaheed joined the Seahawks in a midseason trade with the Saints, providing a much-needed boost to the receiving corps and return game after the team lost rookie Tory Horton to injury. In 12 games with Seattle, Shaheed caught 18 passes for 266 yards and added 86 rushing yards, while averaging over 32 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns and 15.1 yards per punt return with another score.

  • Seahawks acquired Rashid Shaheed from the Saints on November 4, 2025.
  • Shaheed scored a return touchdown in the Seahawks' divisional-round playoff win over the 49ers.
  • Shaheed's game-changing punt return touchdown sparked the Seahawks' comeback against the Rams in Week 16 of the 2025 season.

The players

Rashid Shaheed

A 28-year-old wide receiver and return specialist who was acquired by the Seahawks midway through the 2025 season and made an immediate impact as both a receiver and game-breaking returner.

Tory Horton

A fifth-round rookie wide receiver for the Seahawks in 2025 who suffered a season-ending injury, leading the team to trade for Shaheed to bolster their receiving corps and return game.

John Schneider

The general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, who spent weeks negotiating with the Saints to acquire Shaheed and pair him with Horton as the team's top receiving threats.

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What they’re saying

“When we made that trade with New Orleans, we were expecting the two of them to be our take-the-top-off receivers. Unfortunately, (Horton) had a shin issue that just kept lingering, lingering, lingering. We had to place him on (injured reserve), but we were hoping to get him back at some point; we just weren't able to pull the trigger.”

— John Schneider, General Manager, Seattle Seahawks (The Athletic)

“The Rams game, I still pull that thing up on YouTube just to watch it. It was pretty special. He ran right by us like 140 miles an hour.”

— John Schneider, General Manager, Seattle Seahawks (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Seahawks will look to integrate Shaheed further into their offense in 2026 while continuing to utilize his game-breaking abilities on special teams.

The takeaway

The Seahawks' ability to identify and acquire game-changing talent like Rashid Shaheed, even in the middle of a season, has been a key factor in their sustained success. Retaining Shaheed's services on a long-term deal ensures the team will continue to benefit from his dynamic playmaking abilities for years to come.