The 2025 season ended with a Super Bowl MVP trophy for Kenneth Walker III—but it also marked the beginning of the end of his time with the Seattle Seahawks. Just a month after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, the star running back made a move that surprised many around the league. But Walker himself? He saw it coming all along.
In an appearance on Monday’s #PFTPM, Walker revealed that he knew during the 2025 season that he wouldn’t be re-signing with Seattle. "I would say probably, if I'm being honest, probably like sometime during the season," Walker said. "Things ain't working out how I was expecting to, and that's all right. It worked out for the team. So sometime during the season and then we get to free agency, pretty much knowing like you weren't gonna be there no more."
Whether it was stalled contract talks or a shift in the overall team vibe, Walker sensed the end was near. And when free agency came calling, he found a new home with the Kansas City Chiefs—a team that’s no stranger to championship aspirations.
The Chiefs signed Walker to a deal that guarantees $27 million over the first two years. That kind of investment sends a clear message: Kansas City plans to feature him heavily in their offense. "The team appreciates me over here and, like, being able to come somewhere there where you're appreciated," Walker said. "I definitely feel like I'll be getting the ball a lot, be making plays and, yeah, I'm excited for this season."
Walker joins an elite squad that’s retooling for another Super Bowl run—their fourth since the 2019 season. Unlike the three other Super Bowl MVPs who promptly signed elsewhere in free agency (Larry Brown, Desmond Howard, and Dexter Jackson), Walker lands with a team that had a clear need at running back and a proven track record of success.
With two 1,000-yard seasons under his belt—despite not being the workhorse in Seattle's backfield—Walker could be on the verge of a breakout. And with the Chiefs betting big on him, the stage is set for an even bigger encore in 2026.