OGDEN, Utah, July 20, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Former Weber State great Rashid Shaheed is returning to the New Orleans Saints on a one-year contract extension.
Shaheed will begin his third season with the Saints following his record-setting collegiate career as a wide receiver and return specialist at Weber State.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis announced the contract extension Saturday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported it’s worth $5.2 million.
The San Diego, California, native was signed by New Orleans as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and started the season on the practice squad.
The 6-foot, 180-pound burner made his NFL debut in Week 6 of his rookie season and scored a touchdown on a 44-yard run the first time he touched the ball.
In his two seasons in New Orleans, Shaheed has caught 74 passes for 1,207 yards (16.3 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns, and has carried the ball 11 times for 94 yards (8.5 yards per carry) — including the long TD in his NFL debut.
On special teams, the speedy return specialist has brought back 45 punts for 532 yards and a touchdown, and his 11.8-yard punt return average ranks third in franchise history. He’s also returned 32 kickoffs for 704 yards, averaging 22 yards per return.
Last season, Shaheed ranked third in the NFL and second in the NFC in punt return average (13.6 yards per return) and was named to the NFL All-Pro First Team as a punt returner, as well as a Pro Bowl starter. He finished the season with 1,479 all-purpose yards, ranked 10th in the NFL.
Shaheed, 25, was an electrifying receiver and kick returner for the Wildcats from 2017 to 2021 and the only player in Weber State history to earn All-American honors four times. The four-time All-Big Sky Conference First Team selection finished his college football career as the FCS all-time leader in kickoff return touchdowns with seven.
Shaheed ranks as the Wildcats’ all-time leader in career kickoff return average (29.1 yards per game) and third in all-purpose yards (5,478).
