Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III Signs $43.1M Deal with Chiefs After Leaving Seahawks

Kenneth Walker III, who earned Super Bowl MVP honors last season after powering the Seattle Seahawks to a victory over the New England Patriots in February, has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The impending free agent inked a three-year contract worth $43.1 million, the fourth-highest average annual value among NFL running backs. During the Super Bowl LX parade in Seattle, Seahawks general manager John Schneider drew attention by telling fans he had tried to negotiate a new deal with Walker amid the festivities. Walker denied it on Instagram Stories at the time, though his stance softened later.

Schneider reacted to the loss of the Super Bowl MVP by calling running back "a position where you can find guys." Walker addressed the comment in an interview with Fox News Digital. "I didn’t see him say it, but you know how they are with the running backs, or you know how it is in this industry," he said. "They feel like they can replace you like that. So, if you think that way, it’s on him. But, yeah, I don’t really pay no mind to that. I’m focused on what I gotta do here, learning the playbook and making an impact where I’m at right now."

Schneider praised Walker's performance with the Seahawks but highlighted replacements including George Holani, Emmanuel Wilson from the Green Bay Packers, and Zach Charbonnet, who tore his ACL and faces recovery for the 2026 season. The Seahawks also drafted Notre Dame's Jadarian Price with the last first-round pick last month.

Walker agreed to terms with the Chiefs on the first day of free agency tampering and brushed off his former team's moves. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrated the signing on social media, adding to the appeal. "It’s been great," Walker said of acclimating to Mahomes. "You see what type of leader he is. He’s real vocal. He controls a lot of things on the offense and things like that. He’s real humble, too. Getting to know him has been real cool. Getting to meet everyone else on the team as well. It’s been cool to be able to bond and we’ll continue to build that bond as we go throughout the year."

Walker posted his second career 1,000-yard rushing season with the Seahawks in 2025. He noted the Chiefs lack a 1,000-yard rusher since Kareem Hunt in 2017 but said the team signed him to contribute on the ground or through the air. "I’m not satisfied with that, honestly. I can’t lie," he said. "As long as you play the game, you really won’t get satisfied with anything until you retire I guess. My goal is really making a positive impact any way I can. I want to go out there and ball and help the team win games."

Chiefs teammates will soon learn Walker's pregame ritual: brushing his teeth before taking the field. The Michigan State alum takes oral hygiene seriously and partnered with Oral-B, the NFL's official toothbrush. The iO Series Electric Toothbrush appears in all NFL locker rooms, and Walker has followed the habit since middle school as a good-luck charm. "Definitely got to brush my teeth before. Growing up, my pops would always harp on it. So, brush my teeth before games and everything else. I gotta do it," he said. "Oral health, a lot of people overlook. I feel like it’s real important. It can have effects on other parts of your body. Having your oral health in top shape is important."