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Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III is preparing to face his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, in Week 7, and Chiefs fans believe a resurfaced video shows the moment he decided to leave Seattle.
The video is from the Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX championship parade in February, when general manager John Schneider joked that Walker was trying to negotiate a new contract with him.
Walker, who earned Super Bowl MVP honors after rushing for 135 yards in Seattle’s 29-13 win over the New England Patriots, quickly took issue with Schneider’s comments on social media.
Now that Walker is thriving in Kansas City, the exchange has resurfaced on X, where Chiefs fans are wondering if the interaction played a role in his decision to sign with Kansas City.
The discussion comes ahead of the Sunday, Oct. 25, game at Lumen Field, where Walker will face the Seahawks for the first time since leaving in free agency.
Seahawks GM John Schneider calling Kenneth Walker gets awkward
Schneider appeared to have enjoyed a few drinks when he took the mic during the team’s Super Bowl LX championship parade in February.
Schneider held a red Solo Cup as he celebrated Seattle’s 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots. He swung with the Lombardi Trophy and smiled as he addressed the crowd before turning his attention to the Super Bowl MVP.
“Ken Walker being the MVP, here we go!” Schneider shouted.
The general manager then claimed that Walker had approached him minutes earlier to negotiate a new contract.
“He tried to negotiate with me five minutes ago. It was really weird. MVP! MVP!”
Walker stood nearby and looked toward the crowd as Schneider made the remarks.
The running back later disputed that claim on Instagram Stories, referencing Schneider’s apparent drinking.
“It must be alcohol he drank because I never said that shi!” » Walker wrote, adding two laughing emojis.
A few months later, the trade resurfaced on X before Walker returned to Seattle as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Chiefs fans began sharing the clip and suggested that Schneider’s public comments marked the moment Walker decided he would not return to the Seahawks.
One fan wrote, “That’s the exact moment K9 knew he wouldn’t be a Seahawk anymore.”
Another commented: “That’s when we knew…he wasn’t coming back.” »
A third added: “Lol and that’s when Walker knew he wasn’t coming back to Seattle.”
“Drunk GM will be looking for a new job after KC blew out Seattle on Sunday night,” said a fourth.
Seahawks contract plans reveal why Walker signed with Kansas City
While fans focused on the parade video, ESPN reporters Brady Henderson and Nate Taylor provided details on the financial and football decisions behind Walker’s departure.
According to reporters, Seattle was unwilling to offer Walker more than $10 million per year during contract negotiations in March.
Walker ultimately signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs worth an average of $14.35 million per season.
However, money wasn’t the only difference between the teams’ offers.
“Even if the Seahawks were willing to match Kansas City’s contract, the Chiefs offered something Seattle didn’t have: a chance to get the nod,” the reporters wrote.
Seattle reportedly wanted to continue splitting carries between Walker and another running back rather than making him the primary option.
The Seahawks “didn’t want to pay that kind of money to a back they would have preferred to use on a timeshare again,” according to the report.
Walker entered free agency after an impressive postseason in which he recorded 313 rushing yards on 65 carries with four touchdowns.
He also contributed as a receiver, catching nine of 11 targets for 104 yards during Seattle’s playoff run.
Despite these numbers and his Super Bowl MVP award, Seattle did not match Kansas City’s offer.
Kenneth Walker enters Chiefs-Seahawks game with NFL-leading numbers
Walker has made the most of his opportunity as Kansas City’s star running back in 2026.
Through the Chiefs’ first five games, he totaled 665 rushing yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry.
Both numbers lead the NFL entering Week 7.
His production has given quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense another option as the Chiefs try to maintain their undefeated start.
Walker now returns to Seattle to face the organization that drafted him and helped make him a Super Bowl MVP.
The Chiefs enter the game at 5-0.
Kansas City will face Seattle on Sunday, October 25 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. Central Time on “Sunday Night Football.”
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