The Seattle Seahawks are back on top of the NFL mountain, claiming the Lombardi Trophy with a 29-13 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. And while the scoreboard tells one story, the real headline belongs to Kenneth Walker III - the running back who didn’t find the end zone but still found his way to Super Bowl MVP honors.
Walker was the engine behind Seattle’s offense, racking up 135 rushing yards on 27 carries and adding two catches for 26 yards. That’s 161 total yards - nearly half of the Seahawks’ 335 on the day - and every one of them felt earned.
He didn’t need a touchdown to make his impact felt. He just kept moving the chains, chewing up clock, and wearing down a Patriots defense that had no answers for his blend of burst and balance.
And here’s the kicker: Walker is set to hit free agency next month.
Timing is everything in the NFL, and Walker’s couldn’t be better. He’s coming off a regular season where he topped 1,000 rushing yards (1,027 to be exact) for the second time in his four-year career.
He matched his rookie-year average of 4.6 yards per carry and added 282 receiving yards on 31 catches - a personal best. That’s 1,309 yards from scrimmage, his highest total yet, and he did it while splitting time with Zach Charbonnet for much of the season.
But when the postseason lights came on, Walker took over. He became the Seahawks’ go-to guy, posting 145, 111, and 161 scrimmage yards in Seattle’s three playoff wins, along with four total touchdowns. In other words, when it mattered most, he delivered.
Now, the big question: where does he go from here?
Seattle will no doubt want to keep him. A back who can carry the load in January and February doesn’t grow on trees.
But keeping him won’t come cheap. Spotrac projects his next deal to land around $9 million per year - a hefty price tag, but one that reflects his value as a true three-down back with postseason pedigree.
And that brings us to the Arizona Cardinals.
Arizona is staring down a potential overhaul in their backfield. James Conner is coming off a season-ending injury and enters the final year of his deal - a contract that makes him a possible cap casualty.
Meanwhile, Emari Demercado and Bam Knight are both set to become restricted free agents. Simply put, the Cardinals have decisions to make, and Walker could be a name to watch.
Adding Walker wouldn’t just give Arizona a legitimate RB1 - it would also weaken a division rival in the process. That’s the kind of move that reshapes the NFC West landscape.
Of course, there’s a long way to go before any of that happens. But one thing is clear: Kenneth Walker III just had the biggest game of his life, on the biggest stage, at the perfect time. And now, he’s about to cash in.