If you’re looking for the NFL player who had the hottest finish to the 2025 season, look no further than Kenneth Walker III.
Walker capped off an impressive finish to the regular season, and an even better postseason run, with an MVP performance in the Seattle Seahawks dominant win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl.
One team that didn’t have much fun last season?
The Kansas City Chiefs, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014 after making five Super Bowl appearances over the past seven years, taking home three Lombardi Trophies. Injuries marred a 2025 campaign that saw them finish with a dismal 6-11 record, including a late-season knee injury to star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
After the Seahawks showed little interest in bringing Walker back on a new contract despite his impressive playoff and Super Bowl performances, he found a new home with the Chiefs on a three-year deal worth up to $45 million in free agency.
In an exclusive interview with Athlon Sports, Walker detailed the reasons why he’s thrilled to be joining the Chiefs ahead of the 2026 season.
“Yep, you got so many weapons on the field, offense and defense,” Walker said. “Like you said, they have a winning culture. Everybody wants to win in the league, so I feel like that’s a great fit because I’m a competitor.”
Kenneth Walker III is joining a star-studded roster in Kansas City. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)© Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Walker’s addition should stabilize what was an inconsistent Chiefs running game last season, balancing the offense and making life difficult for opposing defenses who won’t be able to key against one aspect of their attack without leaving them susceptible to the other.
“I feel like that’s part of the reason they wanted me here, is that we can be a threat in the run game and pass game,” Walker said. “They can’t really load the box when you got Pat Mahomes out there, so yeah, it’ll be a problem.”
Even though the Kansas City offense looks dangerous on paper with him now in the mix, Walker knows that it’ll be up to him and his new teammates to build chemistry fast if they want to get back in the Super Bowl hunt this season.
“Yeah, it’s great, but we also got to execute right away,” Walker said. “Get to know each other, bond, and get on the field and execute. I’m really learning the playbook now, all the terminology, and getting acclimated with that. But I feel like it’s gonna be a great season for us.”
With defenses preoccupied with slowing down Mahomes as the passing game, Walker is primed to pick up right where he left off, building on his late-season success from 2025 and starting his tenure in Kansas City off strong.
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.
