After one year as a basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, the Bears second-round draft pick transferred to Division II Ashland University to play basketball.
"I mean I still love basketball, but I really love football," Shaheen said.
The former self-proclaimed "skinny" basketball player is now a 6-foot-6, 278-pound rookie with the Bears. The 45th overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, Shaheen is profiled in "Meet the Rookies," a four-part series on ChicagoBears.com.
"I just really missed hitting somebody and playing football," said Shaheen.
In the piece, Shaheen goes back to his high school roots to talk to young athletes about his journey.