- Seattle Seahawks players Kenneth Walker III and Rashid Shaheed are entering free agency after the Super Bowl.
- Walker has been a key part of the Seahawks’ resurgent rushing attack, with four touchdowns this postseason.
- Shaheed, a wide receiver and special teams player, has expressed his desire to return to Seattle next season.
SAN JOSE, CA – Two major offensive X factors for the Seattle Seahawks are entering free agency after the Feb. 8 Super Bowl – Kenneth Walker III and Rashid Shaheed.
Walker’s looming free agency hasn’t weighed heavily on his mind despite being Seattle’s starting running back for four straight seasons. He said he’s focused on winning his first Lombardi Trophy before thinking about what comes after his postseason surge that’s included four rushing touchdowns in two playoff appearances.
“That’s something we’ll talk about later on, after we win the Super Bowl. You know what I’m saying,” Walker said Wednesday. “Can’t focus on that right now.”
Walker hass played a leading role in the resurgence of the Seahawks’ rushing attack.
The Seahawks have compiled at least 120 rushing yards eight times, including the playoffs, since their Week 8 bye. They’ve rushed for more than 160 yards in four of their past five contests, with walker registering at least 97 rushing yards in three of the last five games. He’s tallied more than 100 yards from scrimmage in three straight games and those four rushing touchdowns are the most of any player this postseason.
The Seahawks are 7-1 this year when Walker has at least 100 yards from scrimmage.
“Crossing my fingers that he’s in the locker room next year as a Seahawk because he’s a piece that’s very vital to the success that we’ve had,” Seahawks guard Grey Zabel said.
The Seahawks have put an emphasis on their run game, specifically on wide zone runs, and it has paid dividends in recent weeks. Walker has averaged 4.7 yards per carry, the most among running backs with at least 20 carries this postseason.
“The way that our offensive line and our receivers and tight ends and our running backs have been able to communicate with each other and grow with that chemistry has only helped us a ton in the run game,” Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold said. “There’s a great chemistry going on. And I think that has a lot to do with kind of our success that we’ve been having in the run game in the last few weeks.”
Rashid Shaheed “absolutely” wants to return to Seahawks
Walker is coy about his uncertain future in Seattle. Shaheed is not.
Like Walker, the wide receiver and special teams ace is on an expiring contract. Shaheed told USA TODAY Sports he “absolutely” wants to be back in Seattle next season.
“Being here in Seattle has been a dream come true. It’s opened up so many opportunities for myself and my family,” Shaheed said. “This organization has been great to me since Day 1.”
Shaheed’s been a lightning rod for the Seahawks offense and special teams ever since Seattle acquired him at the trade deadline. He’s the only player in the NFL this season with both kick return and punt return touchdowns.
Known for his explosive speed, Shaheed’s 95-yard kick return touchdown ignited the Seahawks in their divisional round win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Shaheed had a quick response when USA TODAY Sports asked the speedster who’s going to be the fastest player on the field on Super Sunday.
“I got to say me, man,” Shaheed said. “I got to give that to me.”
Walker and Shaheed headline the Seahawks’ key 2026 free agents. Both have had essential roles in Seattle’s journey to Super Bowl 60.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.