Travis Kelce doesn’t usually need much prompting to sound fired up, but when the Chiefs tight end was asked Wednesday about Kansas City’s biggest offseason move, he went straight to full throttle.
That move was the signing of Kenneth Walker, the reigning Super Bowl MVP and former Seattle Seahawks back, who arrived on a three-year deal worth nearly $15 million annually. It was a notable shift for Kansas City, which had spent years piecing together its backfield with low-level veteran signings and seventh-round draft picks before finally making a major investment at running back.
Kelce, speaking behind the podium for the first time since training camp opened, didn’t hide his excitement.
"Woo! You know, Ken Walker's gonna be a helluva ball player for us, if you didn't know that already," said Kelce.
"He's got every trait you could possibly want at the running back position. And on top of that, his mentality, how smart he is, his physicality, his aggression, and how he runs with the football and just plays the game.
I can't say enough about him as a teammate."
That wasn’t the only line that stood out. Kelce closed his thoughts on Walker with another glowing description: " We got an absolute superstar on and off the field in No. 9."
The Chiefs are banking on that being true. Walker’s postseason run for Seattle was a big part of why he drew so much attention on the market, with 65 carries for 313 yards and 4 scores across three playoff games. In Super Bowl LX, he piled up 29 touches for 161 yards and earned MVP honors, then turned that momentum into a major payday one month later.
Kelce isn’t the only Chiefs voice already sold on what Walker can bring. Andy Reid sounded eager about the back’s playmaking ability earlier this offseason, saying, "He's legit.
He can take it the distance every time he touches the ball. There's that threat."
Mahomes also praised him in a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports, calling Walker "one of the best football players I've ever been around."
For Kansas City, the appeal is obvious: a back with real burst who can change the shape of an offense that has leaned more on efficiency than firepower. Walker’s arrival should ease some of the pressure on Mahomes, and Kelce’s reaction suggests the Chiefs believe they’ve added more than just another weapon.
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