It’s not often that a player experiences this major a shift: From being on one of the least competitive teams in the league to joining a Super Bowl squad. But for Rashid Shaheed, that’s exactly what happened.
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Shaheed was signed on as an undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints in 2022. And in 2025, they traded him to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for 2026 fourth- and fifth-round draft picks.
It was one of those rare trades where both sides benefited from the deal. Mickey Loomis was able to ensure some future draft capital for the Saints’ rebuild, while a talented player like Shaheed was finally allowed to go and compete in meaningful football games with a true contender. “It was quite an experience,” Shaheed recalled when asked about the transition.
“Obviously, I enjoyed my time in New Orleans. I loved the city, and I loved the fans… They gave me the opportunity to be who I am today. The whole thing happened so fast that you don’t really have time to think about what’s going on… [Seattle] made me feel like I was at home immediately… They made it easy, my teammates and my coaches, so I give them credit for that,” added the wide receiver.
Shaheed then spoke about the time he spent with Klint Kubiak in New Orleans, suggesting that it was a big help to see a familiar face during such a transition phase in his life and career. The new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders was the offensive coordinator for the Saints in 2024 before making his way to Seattle before the 2025 regular season.
While their reunion certainly proved to be a productive one, they’ve now been separated yet again. Shaheed is clearly fond of Kubiak.
“He allowed me to hit the ground running,” Shaheed said about the coach. “It only took me about a week before I was able to get the whole system back into my brain; it didn’t take long at all. So I feel like that’s how I was able to acclimate so quickly, it was my familiarity with Klint.”
There’s no denying that the Who Dat nation is still wishing that things had turned out differently. But they also understand that, in the end, Shaheed’s exit from the Big Easy was best for everyone involved.
So even though there isn’t much to celebrate down in the bayou right now, the Cajuns can at least find some solace in the fact that their old friend is now sitting at the peak of professional football.
