Kenneth Walker III signs with Chiefs in NFL free agency splash

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The reigning Super Bowl MVP is headed to Kansas City.

Running back Kenneth Walker III has joined the Chiefs, according to multiple reports. Terms of the deal were not immediately known.

The Post previously reported the Giants had interest in the four-season veteran.


Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald, Sam Darnold, and Kenneth Walker III celebrate with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LX.
Kenneth Walker III celebrates after winning Super Bowl 2026. REUTERS

Walker, 25, cashed in after a phenomenal postseason run with the Seahawks that culminated with the team’s second Super Bowl title.

The former Michigan State star split carries with Zach Charbonnet during the regular season, but the latter suffered a season-ending injury in the Divisional Round that left Walker to carry the load.

He responded with 65 rushes for 313 yards and four touchdowns, including a 116-yard, three-touchdown performance against the 49ers in the Divisional Round.


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Walker later carried the sluggish Seahawks’ offense during the Super Bowl, registering 135 rushing yards on 27 carries in the 29-13 win over the Patriots to earn MVP honors.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider joked during the team’s Super Bowl parade how Walker used his Super Bowl excellence as a bargaining chip.

“Ken Walker being the MVP, let’s go!” Schneider yelled. “He tried negotiating with me five minutes ago. It was really weird. Anyway. hey, M-V-P! M-V-P!”


Seattle Seahawks' Kenneth Walker III running with the football during a game against the New England Patriots.
Kenneth Walker III runs through Patriots during the Super Bowl. REUTERS

The Seahawks had the option to place the franchise tag on the running back but opted against giving him the one-year, $14.3 million contract, paying the way for him to enter free agency.

Walker will now have his chance to show his place among his fellow running backs after having to split carries with Charbonnet the past three seasons with the Seahawks.

After rushing for career-highs in rushing yards with 1,050 and touchdowns with nine in his rookie season in 2022, Walker’s totals dripped in each of the next two years.

Injuries limited him to just 11 games in 2024 and he tallied only 573 rushing yards.

Walker rushed for 1,027 yards this past season but tallied only five rushing touchdowns since the Seahawks preferred Charbonnet in goal-line opportunities.

He almost matched that total in just three postseason games.

For his career, Walker has amassed 3,555 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns, plus 1,005 receiving yards and two scores.

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