A new report has shed light on why Kenneth Walker III left the Seattle Seahawks in free agency and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. According to a report published October 21, the Seahawks did not make Walker a contract offer before he entered the open market, raising fresh questions about Seattle’s decision to move on from its Super Bowl LX Most Valuable Player.
Walker has made an immediate impact in Kansas City, emerging as one of the NFL’s most productive running backs during the opening weeks of the 2026 season. With the Chiefs scheduled to visit Seattle on Sunday, October 25, his departure has become an even bigger talking point ahead of the Week 7 matchup.
Report: Seahawks Did Not Make Kenneth Walker a Contract Offer
Michael-Shawn Dugar reported on NFL.com on October 21 that Seattle never made a contract offer to Walker before free agency, citing league sources who were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. The report also indicated that the Seahawks had no serious discussions about bringing the running back back to the team.
The revelation provides important context surrounding Walker’s departure. Rather than simply losing a bidding war for a highly sought-after player, Seattle reportedly did not formally pursue a new contract with its former starting running back.
Walker entered the 2026 offseason after helping the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots. His postseason performance, capped by Super Bowl MVP honors, strengthened his position in the free-agent market and helped establish him as one of the most attractive offensive players available.
Seattle originally selected Walker with the 41st overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. During his four seasons with the franchise, he established himself as an explosive runner capable of turning routine carries into significant gains.
Kenneth Walker Signed a Major Deal With the Chiefs
Kansas City moved quickly to secure Walker during the 2026 free-agency period. The running back signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs on March 12, giving the franchise an established lead option for its rushing attack.
The contract was initially reported as being worth up to $45 million, including $28.7 million in fully guaranteed money. Subsequent coverage has described the deal as worth approximately $43 million.
The investment reflected Kansas City’s need to improve its running game and reduce the pressure on quarterback Patrick Mahomes to generate offense through the passing attack alone. Walker’s speed, tackle-breaking ability and potential to produce explosive plays made him a strong fit for that objective.
Walker’s transition has worked well so far. He recorded 173 rushing yards and a touchdown in his first regular-season game with Kansas City, a 31-10 victory over the Denver Broncos on September 14. He followed that performance with additional productive outings against the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.
Walker’s 2026 Statistics Highlight His Impact
Entering Week 7, Walker has recorded 665 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns on 106 carries across five regular-season appearances. His average of 6.27 yards per carry demonstrates the efficiency and big-play potential he has brought to the Kansas City offense.
His latest performance came in a 22-6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on October 18. Walker finished that game with 128 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 19 carries, continuing a strong start to his first season with the Chiefs.
Those numbers help explain why his free-agency departure has attracted renewed attention. Kansas City has gained a productive, explosive runner who can create opportunities on the ground and give Mahomes another dependable option in the offense.
Seahawks Face Questions About Replacing Walker
Seattle, meanwhile, has had to distribute its rushing workload among other players. Through six regular-season games, the Seahawks have recorded 643 rushing yards and averaged 3.9 yards per carry, according to the team’s published statistics.
The team activated running back Zach Charbonnet from injured reserve on October 22, giving Seattle another option in its backfield ahead of the Kansas City matchup. However, replacing Walker’s combination of acceleration, open-field speed and scoring production remains a significant challenge.
The Seahawks entered Week 7 with a 3-3 record following a 17-14 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos on October 15. Kansas City, by comparison, entered the week unbeaten at 5-0 after defeating the Chargers.
Seattle’s running game will be an important area to watch as the teams prepare to meet at Lumen Field. Walker’s departure does not explain every difficulty the Seahawks have experienced offensively, but his production in Kansas City has made the contrast between the two backfields particularly noticeable.
Chiefs-Seahawks Game Adds Another Layer to the Free-Agency Story
Sunday night’s matchup offers Walker an opportunity to face the organization that drafted him and the teammates with whom he won a championship. The Chiefs and Seahawks are scheduled to meet on October 25 at Lumen Field in Seattle, with kickoff set for 5:20 p.m. Pacific time on NBC.
The game also gives Seattle’s defense a direct test against a running back whose success has become a major storyline of the 2026 season. Limiting Walker’s ability to create explosive plays will be a priority for the Seahawks as they attempt to slow down Kansas City’s offense.
For the Seahawks, the latest reporting adds another dimension to a decision that was already under scrutiny. Walker’s departure was not simply a matter of watching a former player sign elsewhere; according to the report, Seattle did not make a contract offer before free agency.
For Kansas City, the move has delivered the productive running back the team hoped to acquire. Walker’s performance through five games has strengthened the case for the Chiefs’ investment, while the upcoming matchup provides an immediate reminder of what Seattle lost when he left.
The longer-term assessment of the Seahawks’ decision will depend on how both teams perform over the remainder of the season. For now, the reported absence of a contract offer, Walker’s impressive production and Sunday night’s reunion have placed his 2026 free-agency move firmly in the NFL spotlight.