How will the Chiefs benefit from the Super Bowl MVP running back

On March 9, 2026, the Kansas City Chiefs signed running back Kenneth Walker III “K9”, a former Seattle Seahawk, to a 3 year, 45 million dollar contract. During the NFL playoffs Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet suffered from a torn ACL, which pushed Walker into a bigger role. Walker immediately took a step forward, and his success earned him the most valuable player award of Super Bowl 60, along with a championship ring. “His Superbowl MVP performance was very impressive, I feel like the Patriots couldn’t stop him.” Said Gavin Smith ‘27. Kenneth Walker was drafted in 2022, and has quickly established himself as a very explosive and dynamic running back. Walker has a unique and special set of abilities, and he is able to break tackles consistently, find and accelerate through small running holes in the defense and also turn small and seemingly disastrous plays into big gains. These abilities make Walker a perfect fit for the Chief’s offense which is in desperate need of weapons.

Kenneth Walker is not only known for his output in the NFL. He first gained attention from scouts and the nation following his time at Michigan State University. During his last season in college, Walker rushed for 1,636 yards and picked up 18 touchdowns. During this season, Michigan State faced their rival (Michigan), and Walker did not disappoint. Walker had 197 rushing yards on 23 rushing attempts, and three receptions for 11 yards. Walker also scored an unfathomable amount of five touchdowns. Walker’s legendary college season earned him the Doak Walker award, which is given to the nation’s best running back. Walker also finished sixth in the 2021 prestigious Heisman Trophy voting, a trophy given to the nation’s top player in college football.

Upon Kenneth Walker’s drafting to the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, Walker quickly proved himself as a dangerous threat and a top running back in the NFL. During his rookie year, Walker showcased his physical game style along with his elite speed and terrific ball carrier vision. Walker was a constant scoring threat and could leave top defenses feeling completely defeated. 

For the Chiefs, signing Kenneth Walker is a tremendous move, and they severely struggled running the ball in the 2025/2026 season. Walker’s signing also gives the Chiefs another offensive weapon alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wide receiver Rashee Rice and tight end Travis Kelce. Mahomes suffered an ACL tear and is not expected to be available until week 11 of the 2026/2027 season. Many defenses already struggle to contain the Chiefs’ passing attack, so bringing in Walker brings a balance to the offense and will force defenses to not only worry about passing, but also running. Levi Grossman 27’ says, “The Chiefs are starting to look very dangerous now that they got Walker to pair with the other weapons.”

Signing Kenneth Walker could be a very pivotal move for the Chiefs in the long run, as Walker brings not only experience, but also a unique and dominant skill set. The return of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, with the combination of Walker, will help the Chiefs compete against other top teams for a chance at winning the Super Bowl for many years to come.