Kenneth Walker Powers Seahawks to Super Bowl Glory with MVP Performance
In a Super Bowl that felt more like a time machine to the smashmouth football of decades past, the Seattle Seahawks didn’t need flash-they had force. And at the center of that force was Kenneth Walker III, who turned a matchup against one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses into his personal showcase, earning Super Bowl MVP honors in the process.
This wasn’t the kind of game that’s going to light up highlight reels for years to come. No last-second heroics, no controversial calls at the goal line. Just a gritty, old-school battle where every yard mattered-and Walker made sure most of those yards belonged to Seattle.
Coming into the game, the New England Patriots had built their identity around defense. They were among the league’s elite against the run, finishing the regular season allowing the fifth-fewest rushing yards to opposing backs. On paper, they looked like a nightmare matchup for Seattle’s ground game.
But Kenneth Walker doesn’t live on paper.
From the opening drive, the Seahawks made it clear: they were going to run the ball, and they were going to do it with Walker leading the charge. He responded with 27 carries for 135 yards, slicing through the Patriots defense with a mix of vision, burst, and pure physicality. He added two catches for 26 yards to round out a complete performance that didn’t need a touchdown to leave a lasting impression.
Walker’s biggest moment came on a 30-yard run that was a clinic in patience and explosiveness. He waited for his blocks to develop, then hit the seam with authority, bouncing to the right and breaking into the open field. It was the kind of run that doesn’t just move the chains-it breaks the will of a defense.
While he didn’t find the end zone, Walker didn’t need to. His impact was felt on every drive, every possession. He controlled the tempo, set the tone, and gave the Seahawks exactly what they needed to grind out a championship against a battle-tested Patriots squad.
This wasn’t a one-game breakout, either. Walker’s postseason was a crescendo.
After sharing backfield duties during the regular season with Zach Charbonnet-finishing with a solid 1,027 rushing yards-Walker took over when it mattered most. When Charbonnet went down with a torn ACL early in the Divisional Round, Walker didn’t blink.
He stepped into the lead role and ran with it.
Against the 49ers, he piled up 116 yards and three touchdowns. In the NFC Championship against the Rams, he added 62 rushing yards, 49 receiving yards, and another score. And then came the Super Bowl, where he delivered the kind of performance that cements legacies.
With that, Walker became just the second Michigan State alum to win Super Bowl MVP, joining Nick Foles in that exclusive club. And while his college career in East Lansing didn’t end with a national title, his NFL journey has now reached the ultimate summit.
The Super Bowl MVP trophy is awarded for one night. But if there were an award for the entire postseason, there’s little doubt Walker would be the runaway favorite. He was the heartbeat of Seattle’s offense, the engine that kept them moving when everything else stalled.
In a game where defense ruled the day, Kenneth Walker broke through the noise. He didn’t just play well-he defined the game. And now, he's got the hardware to prove it.