After an MVP performance in the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory last season, Kenneth Walker III hit free agency as the top running back on the market.
He was snatched up by a team that knows a thing or two about winning Super Bowls: The Kansas City Chiefs.
Led by three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, and star tight end Travis Kelce, the Chiefs have participated in five of the last seven Super Bowls, winning three of them.
In search of a more balanced offense after a disappointing 2025 season that ended without a playoff appearance, and with a season-ending knee injury for Mahomes, the Chiefs signed Walker to a three-year deal worth up to $45 million back in March.
Walker says Mahomes and Kelce both made him feel welcome on his new team right away.
“Yeah, I’ve been talking to Pat for a minute now,” Walker said in an exclusive interview with Athlon Sports. “I was able to meet him in person. I’m always talking to him every day I see him. I haven’t met Travis in person, but I talked to him on the phone. He’s a vet as well, I know he’s gotta get his body right. But it was cool. It’s cool to be able to meet those guys and just really pick their brain and understand who they are.”
Kenneth Walker III (right) won Super Bowl MVP honors with the Seattle Seahawks last season. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Asked what stands out to him about Mahomes based on their early conversations as new teammates, Walked pointed out a couple of key traits, both on and off the field.
“It’s really two things — just how humbling he is and how competitive he is,” Walker said. “He’s always looking for ways to get better. I just got here, but you can see how he runs the routes and how goes through the plays. It’s very detailed.”
Walker says Kelce reached out to him via text after he signed with the Chiefs, making it clear he’s happy to have him in Kansas City after his impressive run with the Seahawks.
“He hit me up, he was really excited that I got to the team, that I’m a Chief, and made me feel appreciated,” Walker said. “Those guys, they’re happy to have me on the team. I’m ready to go out there and ball on the side of them.”
With Mahomes coming off the injury and a frustrating 2025 season that fell short of their high standards, and Kelce perhaps going into the final year of his legendary NFL career, both will be highly motivated to deliver a strong 2026 campaign and return to Super Bowl contention.
Now that Walker is joining them on that side of the ball, their chances of making that mission a reality have gotten a huge boost.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
