Kenneth Walker III had every right to be in Seattle on Thursday night. His former teammates were gathering to pick up Super Bowl rings — hardware he helped them earn. Instead, the running back was nowhere to be found.
According to NBC Sports, Walker was the only player from the 2025 Seahawks roster who didn’t attend the championship ring ceremony. The team celebrated their historic title, but the newly signed Chiefs back opted out completely.
The timing isn’t a mystery. Kansas City’s mandatory minicamp wrapped up the same day. Walker chose his new team’s obligations over a night of reminiscing with the old one.
A Breakup That Started Long Before Free Agency
Walker didn’t just wake up one day and decide to leave Seattle. He told reporters that midway through the 2025 season, he already knew his future wasn’t with the Seahawks. Things weren’t working the way he’d hoped, and the writing was on the wall.
That realization, however uncomfortable, ended up benefiting the team. Seattle rode that clarity to a championship run. And Walker? He landed in Kansas City on a deal that guarantees $27 million over the first two years.
Still Tight with Zach Charbonnet
Despite media chatter trying to paint a rivalry between Walker and former backfield mate Zach Charbonnet, the two remain close. Walker emphasized that they talk every day and the bond hasn’t wavered, even with both now on different teams. The narrative of friction over shared carries was overblown, he suggested.
“We’re incredibly close,” Walker said during a recent podcast appearance. The chemistry wasn’t the issue
Looking Forward, Not Back
Skipping the ring ceremony fits Walker’s mindset. He’s fully locked in on helping Patrick Mahomes chase a fourth Lombardi Trophy — and his own second straight championship. The Seahawks’ ring will eventually make its way to him, but for now, he’s focused on the present.
His absence was the most logical outcome given the schedule squeeze. No hard feelings. Just a player turning the page.
Kansas City signed him for a reason. And Thursday night, he showed exactly where his priorities lie.
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