Rashid Shaheed returns kickoff 100 yards for TD and Seahawks blow away hapless Falcons 37-9

ATLANTA (AP) — With the game tied after a lackluster first half, Mike Macdonald knew his team needed a spark.

The Seattle coach called on newcomer Rashid Shaheed to provide it.

Shaheed returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and the Seahawks never looked back, beating the hapless Atlanta Falcons 37-9 on Sunday.

“Coach Mike, he called it,” safety Nick Emmanwori said, breaking into a big grin. “Right before we went back out from halftime, he literally called it out. He was like, 'Sheed, go take one back to the house.'”

Shaheed was acquired a month ago from the New Orleans Saints for a pair of draft picks, leaving one of the league's worst teams for one of its best.

He's starting to get accustomed to his new surroundings, also making four catches for 67 yards as he develops a connection with quarterback Sam Darnold.

“I've not been able to play for a playoff team yet,” Shaheed said. “This feels different. This feels like everyone has bought in.”

The Seahawks (10-3) broke away from a 6-6 tie at halftime with a 31-point beatdown of the Falcons over the final two quarters.

Seattle's defense came up with three turnovers as the Seahawks won for the seventh time in eight games. Darnold threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns, with a pair of scores to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and another to Cooper Kupp.

As for the Falcons, this all feels very familiar.

With its seventh loss in eight games, Atlanta (4-9) sealed an eighth straight losing campaign — matching the worst stretch in franchise history — and was officially eliminated from playoff contention with a month to go in the regular season.

Atlanta hasn't made the postseason since 2017, a year after its infamous Super Bowl meltdown to Tom Brady and the Patriots.

“The kickoff return was a backbreaker,” said embattled coach Raheem Morris, whose future is sure to remain a major topic in the A-T-L.

Shaheed's TD marked the third week in a row that Atlanta has given up a huge kickoff return. He was barely touched on his way to the longest touchdown of the NFL season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. It was the longest return for the Seahawks since Tyler Lockett's 105-yarder against Chicago in 2015.

That wasn’t the only miscue on another awful day for Atlanta's special teams. Zane Gonzalez’s 50-yard field goal attempt was swatted away by Emmanwori, who streaked in off the edge without being blocked.

“We’ve got to go figure it out," Morris said. "We’ve got to put more people out there. We’ve got to change it up.”

The Seattle defense forced a fumble by Bijan Robinson when the Falcons were driving for a potential tying touchdown in the third quarter. DeMarcus Lawrence knocked the ball away and Devon Witherspoon scooped it up at the Seahawks 12.

On Atlanta's next possession, Kirk Cousins' pass for Kyle Pitts was deflected and picked off by Emmanwori, his first career pick. Witherspoon also had an interception on a wacky play when the ball ricocheted high in the air on a short throw by Cousins.

The Seahawks were bolstered on the defensive side by the return of safety Julian Love and tackle Jarran Reed from injured reserve, making the first time all season that unit was at full strength.

The Seahawks have one of the league's top defensive units, and they're not shying away from expectations.

Coming off a shutout of the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle held the Falcons to three field goals. Even in the closing minutes, with the outcome no longer in doubt, the defense took pride in stopping Atlanta near the goal line on fourth down.

“This defense is super special,” Emmanwori said. “We've got a lot of special dudes on this team, from the first level on the D-line to the linebackers to the secondary. I think this defense can be historic almost.”

The Falcons appeared to score the game’s first touchdown late in the first half when Darnell Mooney hauled in a 26-yard pass from Cousins down the left sideline.

But the Atlanta receiver stepped out of bounds just short of the end zone, and officials ruled that he did not re-establish himself on the field before making the catch. The Falcons were forced to settle for Gonzalez’s 43-yard field goal and a 6-3 lead with 1:01 left in the half.

That left enough time for Seattle to tie up before halftime. Darnold scrambled for a 12-yard gain and connected with Shaheed on a 16-yard pass, setting up Jason Myers’ 48-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

Seahawks: TE Elijah Arroyo and NT Brandon Pili both went down in the first half with knee issues. Macdonald said Pili should be OK, but Arroyo's injury could be more serious and will require further evaluation.

Falcons: WR Drake London (knee) missed his third straight game with a knee injury and was joined on the inactive list by DL Brandon Dorlus (groin). Edge Jalon Walker (quad) was injured in the first half.

Seahawks: Return home to face the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday.

Falcons: A short week before they travel to Tampa Bay on Thursday night to face their NFC South rival Buccaneers.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon celebrates a fumble recovery against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp, center, celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, left, during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris looks down on the sideline as his team trails against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp, second from left, celebrates his touchdown with teammates Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) and Nick Kallerup (89) against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) runs the ball against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes (21) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) looks back as he runs for a touchdown on a kickoff return against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

CHICAGO (AP) — Derrick Rose figured he would experience all sorts of emotions when he saw his banner hang from the rafters. They started flowing long before the moment arrived.

The Chicago Bulls retired his No. 1 following their win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. And the kid who went from growing up in a rough South Side neighborhood to starring for his hometown team was ready for the moment.

“I had someone or a journalist ask me, ‘Man, did you cry?’ I told him I cry every day,” Rose said. "And he asked about what. Being joyful, knowing where I grew up, knowing my coming back here, my being practical with knowing the economy, with me being there, and the neighborhoods. And you just know.

"That’s one of the reasons why I came back, is to curate things and to employ people.”

Rose joined Michael Jordan (23), Scottie Pippen (33), Jerry Sloan (4) and Bob Love (10) as the only players whose numbers have been retired by the team.

He shed tears during emotional speeches by former teammates Taj Gibson, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah and by coach Tom Thibodeau. He got choked up when he addressed his mother and older brothers as well as his wife, two sons and daughter. There were hugs and smiles, too, when the banner was unveiled.

Rose had already gotten a glimpse at it. On Friday, the Bulls posted video on social media of him seeing it for the first time.

Rose said seeing the banner was “unreal.” But it hadn't really sunk in.

“All this, the moment, I’m still trying to take in, I’m still trying to process in real time,” he said. “And yeah, and just feeling grateful, you know what I mean? Like knowing the weather conditions out there, knowing that it’s a Chicago thing to even show up here, to fight through that and still go to an event. It’s huge, so it’s something that I’m grateful for.”

The video the Bulls posted shows a wide-eyed Rose walking out to center court. He lets out a “wow, are you serious?” as he gazes at the unfurled banner in front of the scorer's table. He squats, walks over and touches it, rubbing his hand over the No. 1. He's then joined by his family as well as former teammates Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Kirk Hinrich.

Noah says in the video seeing Rose's number raised to the rafters “is our championship moment.”

On Saturday, there were black Rose jerseys at each seat. The Bulls posted video from Jordan and Pippen congratulating him. Rose left roses from his flower shop — Rose's Flower Shop — in both teams' locker rooms before the game.

“He instilled that heart, he instilled that trust in us and that made us come out and fight for you every single night,” Gibson told the crowd.

Former coach Tom Thibodeau called Rose “a basketball savant" whose humility is what really made him stand out.

“The next stop, in my opinion, is the Hall of Fame and there is no doubt about that,” he said.

This isn't the first time the team honored Rose. The Bulls did it when they played New York on Jan. 4, 2025, symbolizing the date as well as the numbers he wore with the Bulls as well as the Knicks and Chicago's Simeon Career Academy. That same day, the Bulls announced they would retire Rose's jersey.

Rose, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft, went from being Rookie of the Year to an All-Star to NBA MVP in his first three seasons. He remains the league’s youngest MVP, winning it when he was 22.

A major knee injury during the 2012 playoffs forced him to miss almost two full seasons and he contemplated stepping away from the game several times following other injury issues.

Rose averaged 17.4 points and 5.2 assists in 723 regular-season games. He averaged 21 points per game before the ACL tear 12 years ago and 15.1 per game in the seasons that followed. But he doesn't dwell on what might have been.

At 37, Rose is more focused on his family and business interests, like an online flower shop and employing people from the city. Or his work promoting participation in chess, particularly among at-rise youngsters. He's not all that interested in working in basketball.

“Everybody thinks the the path or the motif was, 'All right, after you get done, you gotta go back and be around basketball,'” he said. “I didn’t want that. I wanted to curate things or be in lanes that nobody was in. Coming from Chicago, when you tend to enter lanes that people are in, you step on toes and certain things can happen.

"So with me having that in mind, I wanted curate things so that I don’t have to worry about any competition.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Former Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose, talks during a press conference before an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Chicago. Rose's jersey will be retired after the game today. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Former Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose, center, laughs while talking with writer Sam Smith, right, after a press conference, before an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Chicago. Rose's jersey will be retired after the game today. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Former Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose, smiles after a press conference before an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Chicago Bulls guard Kevin Huerter walks into United Center wearing a jersey for former player Derrick Rose before an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Former Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose, left, fist bumps fans before an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Chicago. Rose's jersey will be retired after the game today. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)