Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III has agreed to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Walker is receiving a three-year deal with a $43.05 million base value and $28.7 million fully guaranteed, sources told ESPN's Brady Henderson.
The Chiefs felt improving their rushing attack was one of their top priorities this offseason. The Chiefs were intrigued by Walker's ability to make dynamic highlights, even when the Seahawks' offensive line didn't create clear running lanes for him. Last season, Walker forced 61 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, and generated 10 rushes in which he gained 20 or more yards.
The running back's MVP performance in Super Bowl LX capped arguably the best season of his four-year career with the Seattle Seahawks.
Drafted in the second round (No. 41) out of Michigan State in 2022, Walker topped 1,100 scrimmage yards and scored nine touchdowns in each of his first two seasons. He missed four games in that span, then six in 2024, while dealing with oblique, calf and ankle injuries -- raising questions about his durability.
After making changes to his eating and sleeping habits last offseason as he entered a contract year, Walker stayed healthy in 2025. While sharing snaps with Zach Charbonnet, he totaled 1,309 scrimmage yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry during the regular season, both career highs.
Walker, 25, got better as the season went on. His yards-per-carry average went from 4.4 over the first 15 weeks to 5.9 over the final three games of the regular season. He continued his tear in the playoffs, taking over as Seattle's clear-cut RB1 after Charbonnet tore his ACL in the divisional round.
After scoring a career-low five touchdowns during the regular season, Walker scored four in three playoff games while totaling 417 scrimmage yards. That included 161 on 29 touches in Seattle's win over the New England Patriots as he became the first running back since Terrell Davis 28 years earlier to win Super Bowl MVP.
Walker played in all 20 games, did not miss a single practice once the season began and was a full participant in all but five of them. He appeared on the Seahawks' injury report in only three of the 21 weeks in which they produced one.
The Chiefs' running backs last season generated explosive runs at a historically bad rate. Starter Isiah Pacheco didn't have a single rushing attempt in which he gained 20 or more yards. Kareem Hunt had one. As a group, Pacheco, Hunt and Brashard Smith combined to force just 49 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.
With the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who held the role with the Chiefs from 2018 to 2022, and Walker's arrival, the Chiefs are not expected to lead the NFL in run-pass option plays, which they did a year ago. General manager Brett Veach shared at the NFL scouting combine two weeks ago that the Chiefs' rushing scheme could be more varied in 2026, leading to Walker running behind the interior of the offensive line, featuring players such as right guard Trey Smith, center Creed Humphrey and left guard Kingsley Suamataia, who are all above-average run blockers.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes reacted to Walker joining the Chiefs by writing, 'LET'S GO!!' on his X account. Suamataia also expressed his excitement on his X account, writing, 'Can't wait to block for you brotha."
An explosive runner, Walker has 34 career carries (including playoffs) of 20-plus yards, the fourth most among running backs since 2022. That includes a 55-yard touchdown in Seattle's win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16.
ESPN's Nate Taylor contributed to this report.
