Rashid Shaheed kickoff-return TD: How Seahawks put 49ers into immediate hole in divisional-round matchup originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Seattle Seahawks didn’t played since two weeks ago, but they opened their postseason with a bang.

On the opening kickoff in the divisional round against the San Francisco 49ers, Rashid Shaheed returned the ball 95 yards for a touchdown, the first opening kickoff touchdown return in the playoffs since 2015. For a Seattle team whose quarterback is dealing with an injury, this was a great way to take the pressure off.

The Seahawks would go on to win the game 41-6, cruising to victory thanks to all three phases of their team.

Shaheed was a trade-deadline acquisition who has paid dividends in his short time in Seattle. The wide receiver has great speed and has made an impact on both offense and special teams.

Here’s how Shaheed got the Seahawks off to a great start. 

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Rashid Shaheed kickoff return TD

Shaheed took over as the Seahawks’ kick returner after he was traded to the team, and it’s for reasons like this. Shaheed showed off his blazing speed on the opening kickoff, taking the ball 95 yards for a touchdown.

RASHID SHAHEED 95-YARD KICKOFF RETURN TO START THE GAME.

SFvsSEA on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/buR0WrfA6x

— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026

Seattle’s last home playoff game didn’t have fans, so this was the Seahawks’ fans first playoff action in 10 years.

How many return touchdowns does Rashid Shaheed have?

Shaheed entered Saturday’s contest with four career return touchdowns, three on punt returns and one on a kick return. With Saturday night’s touchdown, he now has more return touchdowns with Seattle than he had overall with the Saints.

Kickoff return TDs

Shaheed has one regular season kickoff return touchdown in his career, and it came this season with the Seahawks against the Atlanta Falcons.

RASHID SHAHEED TAKES THE KICK RETURN 100 YARDS ALL THE WAY

SEAvsATL on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/rdIB9a1qK6

— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025

Punt return TDs

Shaheed has one touchdown on punt returns in each of the last three seasons, the first two coming with the New Orleans Saints and the latest with the Seahawks.

RASHID SHAHEED 76-YARD PUNT RETURN TD!

📺: #NOvsGB on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlushttps://t.co/UQdQ05hqXNpic.twitter.com/AlE6pef6Bh

— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2023

NEED FOR SHAHEED ON THE PUNT RETURN

📺: #TBvsNO on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909gepic.twitter.com/4GA3addtxU

— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024

RASHID SHAHEED 58-YARD PUNT RETURN TD!

LARvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/BrJpea7SCE

— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2025

Rashid Shaheed 40 time

Rashid Shaheed did not participate in the NFL draft scouting combine when he was eligible in 2022, so he doesn’t have an official 40 time. However, he is one of the fastest players in the league and likely would have at least ran a time in the 4.3s.

Rashid Shaheed stats