There is no person more important to the success of the Kansas City Chiefs than quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
After a down 2025 season, though, the Chiefs must improve the surrounding cast around Mahomes. Kansas City acted fast during the legal tampering period, adding to its backfield and shaping the outlook for next year’s offense.
Patrick Mahomes Reacts to Kenneth Walker III Signing
On Monday, the Chiefs agreed to terms with former Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III.
According to Jordan Schultz, Walker’s deal is for three years and $43.05 million, with room to grow to $45 million. The contract will also include $28.7 million in guaranteed money, ushering him into the top tier of running back contracts.
Most importantly, Walker will add explosiveness to a backfield that offered minimal potency in 2025. The combination of Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco was physical but rarely impactful, allowing defenses to allocate more resources to defending the pass.
Unsurprisingly, Mahomes was happy to hear that he’ll have a new path to chunk plays next season.
LETS GO!! 💪🏽💪🏽 https://t.co/uWTcgunFTi
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) March 9, 2026
In response to Walker’s announcement, Mahomes amplified the post with a “LETS GO” message.
Walker’s time with Seattle had been frustratingly inconsistent, splitting time with Zach Charbonnet and falling victim to his own over-aggression behind the line of scrimmage. However, when his partner in crime went down with a knee injury, Walker played some of the best football of his career.
In Super Bowl 60, Walker posted 135 yards on 27 carries. He eventually took home Super Bowl MVP honors. With a championship to his name, he’ll head to Kansas City in search of another Lombardi Trophy, this time with the game’s best quarterback.
By PFSN’s NFL RB Impact Metric, Walker ranked 20th last season. Hunt and Pacheco ranked 22nd and 49th, respectively, out of 53 qualified backs.
It isn’t immediately clear whether Walker will be complemented by last season’s co-starters, or if this signing is indicative of a true three-down role. Even so, Walker’s burst and tackle-breaking abilities make him a significant addition for the Chiefs.
Likewise, Mahomes will enter his age-31 season coming off a major knee injury. Walker raises the ceiling of the ground game, and that confidence could reverberate throughout the offense. There should be more room for play-action shots downfield, less of a need for Mahomes to rely on his legs, and more balance when the Chiefs try to close out leads late in games.
After his second 1,000-yard season, Walker’s well-timed excellence has landed him in the most advantageous spot to continue his ascent and chase another Super Bowl. He’ll hope to make good on his quarterback’s excitement in 2026.
