As the countdown to Super Bowl 60 ticks down, the Seattle Seahawks are bringing more than just momentum to the table - they’re bringing a roster stacked with explosive playmakers and a defense that’s been quietly dominant down the stretch. The offensive trio of Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Kenneth Walker III has given this team a balanced, multi-dimensional attack. Add in veteran leadership, depth at key positions, and a defense that can go toe-to-toe with anyone, and you’ve got a Seahawks squad that’s built to win right now.
But while the spotlight has largely stayed on the usual suspects, there’s one name that could be the X-factor against the New England Patriots: Rashid Shaheed.
Yes, the All-Pro return man hasn’t seen much action in Seattle’s offense since arriving at the trade deadline from the Saints. But that might be about to change - and at the perfect time.
ESPN’s Eric Moody is predicting a breakout performance from Shaheed in the Super Bowl, forecasting over 100 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. That’s not just wishful thinking - it’s a calculated bet on a player who’s shown flashes of game-breaking ability every time he touches the ball.
Since joining the Seahawks, Shaheed’s offensive numbers haven’t jumped off the page. Just 15 catches for 188 yards and no touchdowns, plus 64 yards on seven carries - solid, but certainly not featured-player stats.
Even in the postseason, his offensive involvement has been limited: one catch on five targets across two games. But that one catch?
A 51-yard bomb in the NFC Championship. And his three rushes for 27 yards?
Efficient and explosive.
Where Shaheed has made his mark is on special teams - and it’s been electric. He returned a punt for a touchdown back in Week 16, and in the NFC Divisional Round against the 49ers, he took the opening kickoff to the house.
That kind of momentum-shifting play is what makes Shaheed such a dangerous weapon. He doesn’t need 10 touches to change a game - sometimes, one is enough.
And that’s exactly why this Super Bowl could be his breakout moment.
With Jaxon Smith-Njigba likely to draw double coverage from a Patriots defense known for taking away a team’s top option, the door is open for someone else to step up. Enter Shaheed. His speed is rare - the kind of rare that makes defensive backs nervous before the snap - and his ability to contribute as a receiver, rusher, and returner gives Seattle a versatile chess piece that New England can’t afford to overlook.
If the Seahawks do decide to “unleash” Shaheed on the biggest stage, it could be a nightmare for the Patriots. He’s the kind of player who can flip field position in an instant, stretch a defense vertically, and turn a routine play into six points. And in a game where every inch matters, that kind of explosiveness could be the difference.
Seattle’s got the stars. They’ve got the scheme.
And now, they might just have the secret weapon. Don’t be surprised if Rashid Shaheed is the name we’re all talking about when the confetti falls.