The Chiefs paid $43 million for Kenneth Walker to fix the one thing they've never had under Mahomes: a feature back
Kansas City hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2017. The Super Bowl LX MVP signed in March to change that, and he picked the Chiefs for a simple reason: 'He's the best quarterback in the league.'
The Chiefs haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2017. The leading rusher of the Mahomes era is Mahomes himself, at 2,655 yards. Kansas City signed Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43.05 million deal in March to end that, adding the explosive feature back the offense has lacked for the quarterback's entire run as a starter.
Why did Walker pick Kansas City?
The quarterback, plainly. 'He's the best quarterback in the league,' Walker said of Patrick Mahomes. Seattle chose not to retain him at top-of-market running back money, and the Chiefs moved in with a three-year, $43.05 million deal including $28.7 million fully guaranteed. Walker cited Kansas City's winning culture and the way the team made him feel wanted. Mahomes returned the enthusiasm: 'It's special, the way he's able to run the ball, catch the ball, do everything.'
What does he bring?
Explosiveness the Chiefs' run game has lacked. Kansas City ranked 27th in run rate (41 percent) last season, leaning on Mahomes and the passing game out of necessity rather than choice. Walker is a true feature back: he forced missed tackles on 30.2 percent of his touches in 2025, third-best in the NFL, and brings rare speed on stretch and outside-zone runs plus value as a receiver and blocker. GM Brett Veach pointed to his ability to create plays on his own and impose the offense's will.
What did he do in 2025?
Career bests, then a legendary postseason. Walker put up 1,309 all-purpose yards and 4.6 yards per carry in the regular season, then dominated Seattle's Super Bowl LX championship run: 417 all-purpose yards across three playoff games, capped by 161 total yards on 29 touches in the Super Bowl to win MVP. He was the first running back to win Super Bowl MVP since Terrell Davis in 1998. The Chiefs are buying a back at the absolute peak of his value.
What's the catch?
Durability, the same flag that follows most backs. Before his breakout 2025, injuries limited Walker to just 228 carries across his first three seasons. Andy Reid praised the work ethic, 'stronger than an ox,' and coordinator Eric Bieniemy called him a professional who 'hates being wrong.' The talent and the fit are obvious. The bet is that the 2025 version, healthy and dominant, is the one Kansas City gets, behind a backfield that also includes Emari Demercado and rookies Emmett Johnson and Brashard Smith.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Why Chiefs believe Kenneth Walker can transform their offense
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