Kenneth Walker III Is Ready for His Moment - And It Could Be a Legacy Game
When Shaun Alexander watches Kenneth Walker III run, he sees something familiar. Not just the burst through the hole or the balance through contact - he sees shades of himself.
“He explodes through the holes, he's shifty, he kind of makes the moves,” said Alexander, the 2005 MVP and a Seahawks icon. “He’s got great leg power and balance. He just gets it done.”
Alexander jokes that Walker might be a smaller version of himself. And if that’s the case, then maybe Walker is what happens when you blend Alexander’s power with a little Tony Dorsett finesse. That’s high praise from a guy who knows a thing or two about carving up defenses in January.
But make no mistake - the praise is real, and it’s earned.
As the Seahawks gear up for Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots, Walker is no longer just a rising star. He’s the engine of Seattle’s backfield, and the heartbeat of an offense that’s leaned on him heavily this postseason.
From Complementary Piece to Workhorse
Walker’s role changed dramatically after fellow running back Zach Charbonnet went down with a torn ACL in the Divisional Round win over San Francisco. That injury pushed Walker into a heavier workload - and he’s responded like a player built for the moment.
Through two playoff games, Walker has racked up 256 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns. He scored three times against the 49ers, all on the ground, and opened the NFC Championship against the Rams with a 2-yard touchdown to set the tone.
He’s not just producing - he’s delivering when it matters most.
“He’s everything you could possibly want as a running back,” said rookie offensive lineman Grey Zabel. “He makes us right a lot of the time. We miss a block here and there, and he makes us right.”
That’s one of the highest compliments a running back can get from his line. Walker’s vision, patience, and ability to create something out of nothing have made him a stabilizing force in a postseason that’s tested Seattle’s depth.
And while Walker isn’t one to talk about himself - “It’s not a ‘me’ thing with him; it’s a ‘we,’” Zabel added - his play has done plenty of talking.
A Payday on the Horizon
Walker is set to hit unrestricted free agency in March, and his playoff run couldn’t be better timed. According to Spotrac, his market value sits just under $8.4 million per year, which would place him among the top 15 highest-paid running backs in the league.
Only Breece Hall of the Jets has a higher projected value among pending free agents at the position.
But money aside, Walker’s importance to this Seahawks team is clear.
“Of course, we want Ken back,” said head coach Mike Macdonald. “He’s a phenomenal player, he’s a great person, he’s a great teammate. Those are the people we want in our building.”
Macdonald made it clear that the team’s focus is on the Super Bowl for now, not contract talks. But the mutual respect between Walker and the organization is evident - and that bodes well for the future.
Building a Legacy in Real Time
Since entering the league as the 41st overall pick in 2022, Walker has quietly put together one of the most productive starts to a career among active running backs. He’s rushed for 3,555 yards and 29 touchdowns - good for 13th and 12th in the league, respectively, over that span.
In 2025, he notched his second 1,000-yard season and posted a career-best 4.6 yards per carry. He also forced 64 missed tackles - second only to All-Pro Bijan Robinson.
That kind of production, especially in an era where running backs are often viewed as replaceable, speaks volumes about Walker’s durability and dynamism.
And now, he stands on the doorstep of Seahawks history.
With a win on Sunday, Walker would become just the second running back in franchise history to start and win a Super Bowl, joining none other than Marshawn Lynch. That’s rare air - and a chance to cement his name in Seattle lore alongside some of the greats.
The Seahawks are favored by 3.5 points over the Patriots, and if they’re going to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, Walker will almost certainly have a hand in it.
For now, the comparisons to Alexander or Dorsett are fun. But come Sunday, Kenneth Walker III has a chance to stop being compared to legends - and start becoming one himself.