*Press release from GoAshlandEagles.com - Photo - courtesy of AU
A productive first six games of the 2020 National Football League season has paid off in a contract extension for former Ashland University All-American tight end Adam Shaheen.
Shaheen signed an extension with the Miami Dolphins through the 2022 season on Wednesday (Oct. 28). The extension was reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter on Twitter on Wednesday morning, and confirmed by the Dolphins on Wednesday afternoon.
Through the first six games of 2020, Shaheen has caught five passes for 58 yards and two touchdowns. His high-water receiving mark came on Oct. 18 at home vs. the New York Jets, as he grabbed three passes for an NFL career-high 51 yards, including a pro career-long 43-yarder, and a touchdown.
Playing in a three-tight end rotation in Miami, Shaheen caught touchdowns in back-to-back games in the NFL for the first time against the Jets.
Following a bye week, Miami's next game will be Sunday (Nov. 1) at 1 p.m. at home vs. the Los Angeles Rams.
In 33 career NFL contests, Shaheen has recorded 31 grabs for 307 yards and six touchdowns.
On July 26, Shaheen was traded to the Dolphins by the Chicago Bears for a 2021 NFL Draft choice, either in the sixth or seventh round. He originally was a second-round pick by the Bears in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Shaheen is one of four Eagle football players to be drafted into the NFL, is the highest-drafted Ashland player ever, and is one of nine Eagles to play in an NFL regular-season game. The 2020 NFL season is the 18th in the 21 seasons this century in which a former Ashland football player has been on a regular-season roster.
Shaheen came to Ashland following a year as a basketball player at Pitt-Johnstown, and in his last two seasons, turned in arguably the best stretch for any tight end in NCAA Division II history. His 16 touchdown catches in 2016 not only are an Ashland football record, but they also are the D-II single-season record for a tight end. Shaheen tied the Eagle football single-game record with four touchdown grabs against Northwood on Oct. 8, 2016.
Among Shaheen's numerous honors were his being a Harlon Hill Trophy (NCAA Division II Player of the Year) candidate as a junior, first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in both 2015 and 2016, and from D2Football.com and the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) in 2016; two College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America selections, including first-team in 2016; Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 2016-17; and two first-team All-GLIAC picks.
Despite only starting for two years, Shaheen is ranked sixth in Ashland's 100-year football history with 129 career catches, and is 10th all-time with 1,755 receiving yards.