Rashid Shaheed Returns Opening Kickoff For Six In Divisional Round
Jan 17, 2026, 6:44 PM | Updated: Jan 18, 2026, 4:44 pm
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 17: Rashid Shaheed #22 of the Seattle Seahawks returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SEATTLE — Former Weber State wide receiver Rashid Shaheed opened the NFC Divisional Round with a bang as he took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house.
The return gave Shaheed his fifth touchdown of the season, and his second as a Seahawk.
RASHID SHAHEED 95 YARDS TO OPEN THE DIVISIONAL!!! 💥#LocalsInTheNFL #Seahawks #WeAreWeber @kslsports
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) January 18, 2026
It was just the third touchdown scored on a game-opening kickoff in NFL playoff history.
After getting traded to Seattle, Shaheed scored his first TD on special teams as well. It was a 100-yard return against Atlanta on December 7.
Coming into the game, quarterback Sam Darnold was questionable with an oblique injury. He ended up getting cleared to play, but the injury isn’t a concern when the offense doesn’t even have to hit the field.
The Seahawks scored just 30 total points across two games against the 49ers in the regular season. Starting with seven points in the first 15 seconds could end up being very important.
About Rashid Shaheed
The San Diego, CA native finished his Weber State career as the FCS all-time leader in kickoff return touchdowns (seven). In 53 games with the Wildcats, Shaheed set the Weber State record for kickoff return average at 29.1 yards per return. As a senior, Shaheed was named an FCS First Team All-American as both a kick returner and punt returner. Shaheed is the only Weber State Wildcat to be named as an All-American four different times.
Shaheed signed with the Saints in April 2022 after he wasn’t selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The former Wildcat reportedly received one of the top contracts for an undrafted player that season.
According to Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star, Shaheed signed a deal with the Saints that included the sixth-highest amount of guaranteed money for a UDFA signing in 2022. FCS Analyst Sam Herder reported that Shaheed’s contract featured a guaranteed base salary of $207,000 and a signing bonus of $15,000.
YOU WANT TOUCHDOWNS? WE GOT TOUCHDOWNS!
🏈: @Saints vs. @AZCardinals#TNFonPrime | Watch NOW on @PrimeVideo pic.twitter.com/3GEFA6UUdv
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) October 21, 2022
As a rookie in 2022, Shaheed recorded 28 receptions for 488 yards and two touchdowns. He also had four rushes for 57 yards and a touchdown. In the return game, Shaheed had over 500 total yards on kickoffs and punts.
In 2023, he posted 46 receptions for 719 yards and five touchdowns. Shaheed also returned a total of 43 punts and kicks for 723 yards and a touchdown.
Last season, Shaheed played in just six games before going down with a season-ending injury. He was on a career pace to start the year with 20 receptions for 349 yards and three touchdowns.
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