Hasselbeck: There’s a ‘strong move’ Seahawks can make before free agency

With the Super Bowl and all the festivities that come with winning the Lombardi Trophy behind them, the attention now shifts to the offseason for the Seattle Seahawks.

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In the days since the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory, quite a bit has already happened. They made their first official moves of the offseason on Thursday by signing 15 players to futures contracts. On Sunday, reports surfaced they found their replacement for Klint Kubiak, with San Francisco 49ers run game coordinator/tight ends coach Brian Fleury expected to be hired as offensive coordinator.

But there are still a lot of important decisions awaiting the Seahawks over the next few months, including which of their impending free agents they’ll attempt to retain to try and run it back. That list of soon-to-be free agents includes running back Kenneth Walker III, wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, edge rusher Boye Mafe, cornerback Riq Woolen, cornerback Josh Jobe and safety Coby Bryant.

When former Seahawks quarterback and three-time Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck joined Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Thursday, he was asked which players would be highest on his priority list. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the speedy Shaheed was one of the first names mentioned by the longtime NFL signal-caller.

“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.”

The Seahawks sent a fourth- and fifth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints to acquire Shaheed on Nov. 4, 2025. In 12 games including the playoffs after the trade, the Weber State had a knack for coming up with explosive plays when the Seahawks needed them.

In Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons, Shaheed opened the third quarter with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown to break a 6-6 tie and spark a second-half surge as the Seahawks pulled away for a 37-9 win. In the biggest game of the regular season two weeks later against the Los Angeles Rams, it was Shaheed’s 58-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter that ignited an improbable comeback from down 16 points in an overtime win.

RASHID SHAHEED 58-YARD PUNT RETURN TD!

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— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2025

On Seattle’s very first play of the postseason, the standout return man raced 95 yards for a touchdown on the opening kickoff of a divisional round win over the San Francisco 49ers. And on the Seahawks’ first offensive drive of the NFC Championship against the Rams, it was Shaheed’s 51-yard catch on third down that set up an early touchdown.

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

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— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026

Hasselbeck pointed to Kubiak, who is now the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, as a big reason Shaheed ended up Seattle, noting their prior relationship from Kubiak’s time as the Saints’ offensive coordinator in 2024.

“He’s trying to build a program there (in Vegas). He would love to have Shaheed be his kind of like (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) type guy in his new offense there with who would probably (be) like (projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando) Mendoza as his quarterback, and Brock Bowers as his tight end and Ashton Jeanty as his running back,” Hasselbeck said. “There’s gonna be competition for him.”

There is a way to circumvent that competition. Outside teams won’t be able to contact Shaheed or enter contract negotiations with him until March 9, two days before the new league year begins and Shaheed officially becomes a free agent. So the Seahawks have about a month to get a deal done before that happens.

“If you could get him signed before that competition kind of begins, to me, that would be a strong move,” he said.

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2-7 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

More on the Seattle Seahawks

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• Should the Seattle Seahawks re-sign Walker? Barnwell’s take
• How much could a JSN contract extension cost Seattle Seahawks?

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