With the confetti swept off the field and the Lombardi Trophy safely tucked away in the case, the Seattle Seahawks are officially shifting gears into offseason mode. After a Super Bowl run that reminded the league just how dangerous this team can be when it clicks, the front office is wasting no time getting to work on what comes next.
The first steps have already been taken. On Thursday, Seattle signed 15 players to futures contracts-standard housekeeping, but a sign that the wheels are already turning. Then, on Sunday, reports surfaced that the Seahawks are expected to hire Brian Fleury-formerly the 49ers’ run game coordinator and tight ends coach-as their new offensive coordinator, replacing Klint Kubiak.
But the real heavy lifting is still ahead. The Seahawks have a handful of key free agents set to hit the market, and the decisions they make over the next few weeks could determine whether this team is built to make another deep postseason push-or if they’ll be starting over in some key areas.
Among the names on that list: running back Kenneth Walker III, wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, edge rusher Boye Mafe, cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe, and safety Coby Bryant. That’s a mix of core contributors, rising stars, and high-upside role players-exactly the kind of group that can make or break a franchise’s continuity.
Former Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck joined Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob this week and weighed in on who he’d prioritize. One name jumped out immediately: Rashid Shaheed.
“I think he was such a difference maker for this offense, but also for special teams and for the return game,” Hasselbeck said. “It just seems like he fits in nicely, and he came in mid-season and I just think he’s just scratching the surface of what he could be in this system.”
It’s hard to argue with that assessment. The Seahawks sent a fourth- and fifth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints to land Shaheed back on November 4, 2025. And in just 12 games-including the playoffs-he made a habit of flipping the field, changing momentum, and delivering game-breaking plays when Seattle needed them most.
Week 14 against the Falcons? Tied 6-6 at halftime, Shaheed took the second-half kickoff 100 yards to the house. That touchdown cracked the game wide open and set the tone for a dominant 37-9 win.
Two weeks later, in a must-win regular season finale against the Rams, Shaheed struck again-this time with a 58-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter that sparked a dramatic comeback from a 16-point deficit. Seattle eventually won that one in overtime, and Shaheed’s spark was the catalyst.
Then came the playoffs, and Shaheed didn’t blink. On the opening kickoff of the divisional round against San Francisco, he went 95 yards to the end zone before most fans had even found their seats. In the NFC Championship Game-again facing the Rams-Shaheed hauled in a 51-yard catch on third down during the Seahawks’ first offensive drive, setting up an early touchdown and helping Seattle seize control.
This isn’t just a guy who can help in the return game. He’s a weapon. And the Seahawks know it.
Hasselbeck also pointed out that Klint Kubiak, now the head coach in Las Vegas, was instrumental in bringing Shaheed to Seattle in the first place. The two had worked together when Kubiak was the Saints’ offensive coordinator in 2024, and that connection helped pave the way for the midseason trade.
Now, with Kubiak building a new program in Vegas, it’s no secret he’d love to bring Shaheed with him-potentially as a featured weapon in an offense that could soon include top prospects like Fernando Mendoza, Brock Bowers, and Ashton Jeanty.
“There’s gonna be competition for him,” Hasselbeck said. And he’s right.
But here’s the good news for Seattle: they’ve got a head start. Teams can’t officially negotiate with Shaheed until March 9, two days before the new league year begins. That gives the Seahawks a window-a month-long runway to get a deal done before the bidding war begins.
“If you could get him signed before that competition kind of begins, to me, that would be a strong move,” Hasselbeck said.
It’s hard to overstate how valuable that kind of foresight could be. Shaheed has already proven he can be a difference-maker in the biggest moments.
He’s dynamic, versatile, and still growing into his role. And if the Seahawks want to run it back-and make another serious push-they’ll need players like him in the fold.
The offseason is just getting started, but the clock is already ticking. And for Seattle, locking up Rashid Shaheed might be the first big domino that sets the tone for everything else.