SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Kenneth Walker III really took advantage of being the clear main running back.
With his fellow back Zach Charbonnet out for the season due to an ACL tear suffered in the playoffs, Walker showed he could handle the pressure alone. This was especially important as the Seahawks headed into free agency, eyeing a potential Super Bowl 2026 victory.
In the Seahawks’ 29-13 victory over the Patriots, Walker tallied 135 rushing yards on 27 carries and added 26 yards through the air. While a 49-yard touchdown run was nullified by a penalty, he still secured Super Bowl MVP awards.
During the regular season, Walker outperformed Charbonnet with a score of 221 to 184. Although Charbonnet had more touchdowns—12 in total—he was primarily the go-to in the red zone. Without Charbonnet, however, Walker emerged as a key asset, contributing significantly when the Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl without star receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba, rushing for 116 yards and three scores against the 49ers and 62 yards with another touchdown against the Rams.
Interestingly, Walker’s busiest games came during the season’s final stretch. A second-round pick in 2022, he had a career-high 255 touches as a rookie.
The subsequent year, the Seahawks selected Charbonnet in the second round, aiming to build a strong running back duo in a league increasingly focused on splitting duties among players.
Now, the Seahawks face a decision after their Super Bowl celebration. They could offer Walker a lucrative contract typical of free-agent running backs, franchise him for about $14 million in 2026, or allow him to leave and put their faith in Charbonnet’s recovery.
During the Super Bowl, Walker had a notable performance, gaining 41 yards on four carries during the Seahawks’ second scoring drive and catching a pass on a crucial third down. Although that drive didn’t end in points, it allowed the team to shift the momentum.
In fact, Walker became the eighth player this century to rush for over 100 yards in a Super Bowl, joining well-known names like Jamal Lewis and Marshawn Lynch. However, interestingly, none of these backs have claimed Super Bowl MVP, with the last being Terrell Davis in 1999.
Walker’s first-half total of 100 yards from scrimmage was more than double any other player’s performance on the field that day.
