Kenneth Walker III Leaves Seahawks for Chiefs After Unhappiness Over Workload

The running back signed a 3-year, $43.05 million deal with Kansas City after winning Super Bowl MVP with Seattle.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:08pm

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Kenneth Walker III, the Seattle Seahawks' star running back, has signed a lucrative 3-year, $43.05 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Walker was reportedly "privately irked" by having to share the backfield with teammate Zach Charbonnet, who was the Seahawks' third-down and red-zone back. Despite winning Super Bowl MVP, Walker decided to leave Seattle in free agency, citing a desire to have a backfield all to himself.

Why it matters

The departure of Walker marks the end of one of the NFL's best running back tandems. Walker and Charbonnet helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory, but Walker's desire for a larger workload ultimately led him to leave Seattle for a bigger payday in Kansas City. This move raises questions about the Seahawks' running game going forward, as Charbonnet is set to miss part of the 2026 season due to a torn ACL.

The details

Walker was the Seahawks' second-round draft pick in 2022 and quickly emerged as a star, sharing the backfield with 2023 second-round pick Zach Charbonnet. In 2025, Walker had 47% of the Seahawks' offensive snaps, while Charbonnet had 49%. Charbonnet was the team's third-down and red-zone back, scoring 12 rushing touchdowns. This job-sharing arrangement "privately irked" Walker, who was seeking a larger workload in a contract year. Walker exploded in the playoffs, earning Super Bowl MVP, but decided to leave Seattle for the Chiefs' $14.35 million per year deal.

  • In 2023, the Seahawks drafted Zach Charbonnet in the second round.
  • In 2025, Walker had 47% of the Seahawks' offensive snaps, while Charbonnet had 49%.
  • In the 2025 playoffs, Walker totaled 65 carries for 313 yards and 4 touchdowns in 3 games, earning Super Bowl MVP.
  • In March 2026, Walker signed a 3-year, $43.05 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The players

Kenneth Walker III

A star running back for the Seattle Seahawks who won Super Bowl MVP in 2025 before leaving the team in free agency to sign a lucrative deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Zach Charbonnet

A running back for the Seattle Seahawks who was the team's third-down and red-zone back, scoring 12 rushing touchdowns in 2025 before suffering a torn ACL in the playoffs.

John Schneider

The general manager of the Seattle Seahawks who drafted both Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet in the second round in consecutive years.

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What they’re saying

“The Seahawks planned all this past season to audition Zach Charbonnet for a possible takeover the lead-back role in 2026. Charbonnet shined in a job share that was partly to preserve Walker to get through all 17 games of the regular season.”

— Gregg Bell, Reporter, The Tacoma News Tribune (The Tacoma News Tribune)

“We always want to see the best for one another. He has a big play, I'm always going to be super excited. We also compete in that we want to be kind of the spark on the offense. We continue to just push each other in that aspect. I definitely have a great relationship with Ken [Kenneth Walker III] and just excited to continue to grow our relationship together and continue to push each other.”

— Zach Charbonnet (Instagram)

“How would you feel?”

— Kenneth Walker III (The Tacoma News Tribune)

What’s next

The Seahawks will need to determine how to replace Kenneth Walker III's production in their backfield, with Zach Charbonnet set to miss part of the 2026 season due to his torn ACL.

The takeaway

The departure of Kenneth Walker III from the Seahawks highlights the challenges of managing a successful running back tandem, as players often desire a larger workload and more opportunities to shine. Walker's decision to leave Seattle for a bigger payday in Kansas City underscores the importance of finding the right balance between team success and individual goals in the NFL.