As Super Bowl LX unfolds in San Jose, Calif., all eyes will be on the kickoff and punt returns, especially when the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks send the ball flying back to the opposing team. Seattle’s Rashid Shaheed and New England’s Marcus Jones are two of the NFL’s premier return specialists this season, each capable of changing the momentum instantly. Their standout performances in 2025 have made the return game a critical factor in this championship showdown, elevating anticipation around a potential historic moment involving a punt return touchdown, something never before achieved in Super Bowl history.
Shaheed’s Explosive Postseason Opening and Jones’ Return Prowess
Rashid Shaheed began Seattle’s playoff run with a dramatic 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown right on the opening kickoff, setting the tone for his team early. Jones, meanwhile, has been equally impactful as a returner for New England, earning second-team All-Pro honors for his return skills. His speed and decision-making have proven lethal, as seen in his two punt return touchdowns this season, including a 94-yard sprint against the New York Giants in Week 13. This matchup pits two of the NFL’s most dangerous return threats against each other in an intense battle for Super Bowl supremacy.
The Untapped History of Punt Return Touchdowns in the Super Bowl
Remarkably, no player in Super Bowl history has ever returned a punt for a touchdown, a fact that surprises even the players involved. Upon hearing this, Shaheed expressed excitement about the chance to become the first to achieve this feat in the game’s biggest spotlight.
“That does get me excited. That means that my name could be etched in history,”
he told CBS Sports. Jones reflected similar enthusiasm, saying,
“I just got educated about that,”
and added,
“If that happens, man, I would love to take advantage of the opportunity and end up making history with that. Of course, any time I’m back there I’m always trying to make the best decision first off, and then also whenever I do get the ball and am able to return, I’m trying to score.”
Comparing Shaheed and Jones’ Return Achievements
This season, Jones has proven his exceptional ability in the punt return game, delivering two punt return touchdowns, a rare accomplishment. Shaheed has also impressed with three return touchdowns across kickoff and punt returns during both the regular season and postseason. His punt return touchdown came in Week 16 against the Los Angeles Rams, a key play in Seattle securing the No. 1 seed in their conference. Jones praised Shaheed’s talent by saying,
“Oh yeah, he’s a great returner. He’s able to get around up the field and also hit the seams and get vertical.”
The pivot between these two players intensifies the special teams’ spotlight in this Super Bowl.
Shaheed’s Rare Place Among Return Specialists Heading Into the Super Bowl
If kickoff returns are factored alongside punt returns, Shaheed enters Super Bowl LX as one of only seven players in the last five decades to have three or more combined kickoff and punt return touchdowns before the championship game. Of these seven, three players managed to score a return touchdown during the Super Bowl itself, all on kickoffs. Shaheed’s early playoff kickoff return touchdown highlights the threat he poses. This rare combination places him among a select group of elite returners appearing on the sport’s biggest stage.
What to Watch for During Special Teams Plays Tonight
Given the dangerous return capabilities of both Rashid Shaheed and Marcus Jones, Super Bowl viewers should be especially alert during kickoff and punt returns. Coaches on both sides will likely strategize intensely around ball placement and coverage to limit these game-changing plays. Shaheed acknowledged Jones’s threat on the field:
“Any time he gets the ball in his hands, coaches kind of get to clutching. He’s a special player anytime he gets the ball in his hands, punt returner, kick return. Hopefully, we’ve got a good plan, got to keep the ball away from him.”
The stakes are high, and these special teams moments could influence the outcome of the game significantly.
As history waits to be rewritten, the Rashid Shaheed Super Bowl return has the potential not only to electrify fans but also to carve a new chapter in NFL lore. Should either Shaheed or Jones succeed in returning a punt for a touchdown, it would set a precedent that transforms how the Super Bowl’s special teams plays are remembered and analyzed. Tonight, in the high-pressure environment of Super Bowl LX, the return game might just steal the spotlight and deliver one of the most thrilling moments of football ever witnessed.
MARCUS JONES 94 YARDS TO THE CRIB
NYGvsNE on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/nqwKG9OriT— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2025
RASHID SHAHEED 58-YARD PUNT RETURN TD!
LARvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/BrJpea7SCE— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2025
RASHID SHAHEED 95-YARD KICKOFF RETURN TO START THE GAME.
SFvsSEA on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/buR0WrfA6x— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026
