Shead played football at Portland State. He was named PSU Most Outstanding Defensive Back for all four of his seasons. His Junior season, he was named to the 2nd team All-Big Sky Conference following season named 1st team All-Big Sky Conference.
He signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He also ran track at Highland. He still holds the school pole vault record.
Seattle Seahawks On April 29, 2012, Shead signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent.
On August 31, 2012, he was released. On September 1, 2012 he was signed to the practice squad.
On November 27, 2013, he was promoted to the active roster from the practice squad. After Seattle"s Super Bowl XLIX loss, cornerback Byron Maxwell left for Philadelphia in free agency, leaving a starting position open opposite All-Pro Central Bank Richard Sherman.
The Seahawks signed Cary Williams in the offseason, but he was benched in Week 12 and later released.
With Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon still recovering from injuries, Shead was inserted as the second cornerback against Pittsburgh in place of Williams, and played well enough to earn the starting job full time. In Week 17, Shead recorded his first interception against the Arizona Cardinals, picking off quarterback Drew Stanton in the endzone. He finished the game with an interception, a tackle, and a pass deflection.
