Rashid Shaheed, known for his remarkable speed on the football field, comes from a family deeply rooted in athletics. Born on August 31, 1998, in Phoenix to Haneef and Cassondra Shaheed, both former college track and field athletes, Rashid was destined to inherit impressive speed. His parents recognized early on that their son had a natural inclination toward running, which eventually propelled him into a professional sports career. The Shaheeds later moved to San Diego, where Rashid grew up alongside his younger sisters, Amirah and Aysha.
While Rashid’s two sisters followed their parents’ footsteps by competing in track at the collegiate level, Rashid chose a different path by pursuing football, starting at Weber State University and later making his way into the NFL. His family’s athletic background played a critical role in shaping his speed and competitiveness on the gridiron.
Both Parents Were Competitive Collegiate Track Athletes
Rashid’s elite speed did not develop by chance. His mother, Cassondra, specialized in the 400-meter hurdles at San Diego State University, while his father, Haneef, was a sprinter for Arizona State University. Their combined track experience provided Rashid with a genetically and environmentally supportive foundation for athletic success.
Beyond being former athletes, Haneef remains actively involved in developing young athletes, including coaching Rashid’s sister Aysha at Madison High School and leading a youth track team named Havoc, even while balancing a career with Anthem Insurance.
“It’s a blessing and a curse, but on the plus side I’m just glad to be able to help,”
Haneef said to Mile Split. “I’m here for the kids.”
Three Siblings Fuel a Competitive Sporting Environment
Haneef and Cassondra’s three children—Rashid, Amirah, and Aysha—have all embraced the family’s affinity for track and field. Amirah is competing as a sprinter at Oregon State University, while Aysha continues as a graduate student athlete at Texas A&M.
The siblings constantly challenge each other, maintaining intense competition as a normal part of their daily lives. The rivalry extends to championship titles, patches on jackets, and state-level achievements, fostering a dynamic of healthy tension and motivation.
“It is very, very competitive with them,”
Haneef shared with ESPN.
“They bring it up all the time — who has more championships, and who has more patches on their jacket, who was the fastest comparably or who did better at the state championship. Those conversations still go on daily.”
San Diego: The Family’s Athletic Training Ground
The Shaheeds relocated to San Diego when Rashid was still a preschooler, settling there just before his sisters were born. Rashid’s affinity for sports was visible even in early childhood, as he often ran around the house clad in a Cardinals jersey and helmet, playfully mimicking football players.
“I used to run around the house with a helmet on and a Cardinals jersey because I was born in Arizona,”
Rashid told ESPN.
“I’d stuff my jersey with socks, like pads. That was when they kind of knew that I wanted to play football and that I was one day going to be a football player. I just kind of used track to help with that.”
During high school at Mt. Carmel, Rashid was a standout athlete—he claimed two section titles in sprinting events and excelled on both offense and defense for his football team, setting school records in receiving yards and kick returns. His love for football was clear from a young age.
“From the time he was 3 to 4 years old, he wanted to play football,”
Haneef shared with Mile Split.
“He might have set records in the 100, 200 and 400 and he still would have chosen football. He was a Pac-12 track athlete, but he wanted to play football, so he went to Weber State.”
Parental Expectations Versus Rashid’s Own Athletic Dreams
As Rashid approached his senior year, he faced a difficult choice between two sports scholarships: one offer to run track at the prestigious University of Southern California (USC), and another to play football at Weber State University. His parents, steeped in collegiate track experience, naturally hoped Rashid would choose USC’s track program, which boasted a strong team at the time.
“If you weigh those two things, track at USC versus football at FCS, as a parent, you kind of look at your kid like, ‘what are you talking about? It’s not even a question. You’re going to USC to run track,'”
Haneef explained to ESPN.
“At the time, [USC] had a phenomenal team, and he just didn’t want to do it.”
Despite their initial reluctance, Rashid convinced his parents by expressing how much football meant to him. Reflecting on it later, Haneef acknowledged the tough dynamic between supporting their dreams and respecting Rashid’s choices.
“All of those things, now that I look back, I can see that we were just pursuing that because that’s what we wanted him to do as parents,”
Haneef said.
“It’s not something that he wanted to do now that I look back on it. Mind you, he was dominant in track & field. So, it was a tough conversation, I’ll say he was definitely right.”
Father-Son Training Sharpened Rashid’s Skills
Despite the family’s track background, Haneef played a critical role in Rashid’s football development, often engaging in rigorous one-on-one sessions that built his son’s toughness and dedication.
“When he was little, he’d insist on practicing on a regular field, which kept me in shape,”
Haneef revealed to Mile Split.
“We’d go one-on-one and he wanted to get tackled. If I eased up on him, he’d get angry.”
Rashid himself has credited his family’s athleticism for his success, acknowledging in interviews that much of his speed is a direct inheritance from his parents.
“I get my speed from my parents,”
Rashid remarked during an interview with Erin Summers and the New Orleans Saints media team.
unwavering Support from Haneef and Cassondra
Once Rashid committed fully to football, his parents have been steadfast supporters, frequently attending his games to cheer him on. Their presence was especially meaningful during moments of hardship, such as when Rashid tore his ACL in his senior college year but still found a path to the NFL.
Selected as a free agent by the New Orleans Saints despite his injury, Rashid worked hard to recover and remain on the team’s practice squad. His parents prioritized attending each game, hoping to witness him take the field at any opportunity.
Rashid’s first NFL touchdown reception in 2022 was a milestone that deeply moved Haneef and Cassondra, reinforcing their belief in their son’s relentless pursuit of his dream.
“He always envisioned himself playing in the NFL,”
Haneef shared with Mile Split. “And, he made it happen.”
Today, Rashid Shaheed is a key player for the Seattle Seahawks, who are poised to compete in the 2026 Super Bowl, symbolizing the culmination of his family’s athletic legacy and the fulfillment of their collective dedication to sport.
