When Chiefs' Kenneth Walker III knew he wouldn't re-sign with Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks said plenty about how they valued running back and Super Bowl LX Most Valuable Player Kenneth Walker III when they declined to retain his rights via the franchise tag before they let him reach free agency in March. 

Walker ultimately put pen to paper on a deal to join the Kansas City Chiefs. During a recent chat with Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Walker revealed that he understood during the 2025 campaign that he likely wouldn't re-sign with the Seahawks this offseason. 

Kenneth Walker III understood Seahawks weren't going to pay him

"I would say probably, if I’m being honest, probably, like, sometime during the season," Walker explained about when he saw the writing on the wall. "You know, 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." 

According to ESPN stats, Walker led the Seahawks for the 2025 regular season with 221 carries and 1,027 rushing yards. Over 17 games, he recorded five rushing touchdowns. 

In Seattle's Super Bowl LX win over the New England Patriots, Walker rushed for 135 yards on 27 carries and caught two passes for 26 yards. Roughly one month after he got his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy, Walker signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs that reportedly could be worth up to $45M. According to Florio, that deal will pay Walker $27M guaranteed over its first two years.

Kenneth Walker III glad to be with a team that appreciates him

"The team appreciates me over here and, like, being able to come somewhere where you’re appreciated," Walker added about joining the Chiefs. "I definitely feel like I’ll be getting the ball a lot, be making plays and, yeah, I’m excited for this season." 

The Chiefs seem to believe that quarterback Patrick Mahomes will return from the torn ACL and torn LCL he suffered this past December in time to play in Kansas City's 2026 regular-season opener. Having Walker as a weapon could make certain Sundays easier for Mahomes as the three-time Super Bowl champion shakes off rust related to his setback.