During the Seattle Seahawks’ championship parade on Wednesday, general manager John Schneider humorously revealed that Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III had already attempted to begin negotiating his next contract. The event took place in Seattle shortly after the team’s decisive victory over the New England Patriots, where Walker earned MVP honors.
Addressing the crowd, Schneider said,
“Ken Walker being the MVP, let’s go,”
followed by,
“He tried negotiating with me five minutes ago. It was really weird.”
Kenneth Walker Dismisses Contract Talk Rumors
The running back quickly responded to Schneider’s comments on Instagram, denying any contract discussions and attributing the story to festive spirits. Walker wrote,
“Must’ve been da liquor he drinking cuz I never said dat shi,”
making light of the playful claim.
Walker’s Outstanding Season and Postseason Performance
Walker completed the season under the final year of his rookie deal, finishing with an impressive 1,027 rushing yards and adding 282 receiving yards through 17 regular-season games. He stepped up during the playoffs to fill in for injured teammate Zach Charbonnet, leading the NFL postseason by rushing for 313 yards and scoring four touchdowns across three games.
His performance culminated in a commanding Super Bowl showing, where he rushed for 135 yards on 27 carries and caught two passes for 26 yards, helping Seattle secure a 29-13 victory against New England in Santa Clara.
Free Agency Looms for Walker and Other Key Seahawks Players
Walker is poised to enter free agency when his current contract expires on March 12. He joins several other Seahawks players potentially hitting the market soon, including cornerback Tariq Woolen and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed. This offseason presents a pivotal moment for Seattle as they consider how to retain their emerging stars.
After the championship, Walker expressed his desire to remain with the Seahawks, saying,
“I’ve been here four years, so you know I’ve gotten to know a lot of stuff about Seattle, and you know a lot of the city, and I feel like they feel good about me as well. So if it was my choice, though, I’d definitely stay,”
according to NFL.com’s Kevin Patra.
Financial Outlook and Team Prospects Ahead
Projections from Spotrac estimate Walker’s next contract could be a four-year deal worth $36 million. The Seahawks currently have approximately $62 million in cap space for 2026, ranking sixth highest in the NFL, giving them the flexibility to negotiate strategically during the offseason.
General manager Schneider may also consider using some of this cap space to keep Walker paired with quarterback Darnold, further strengthening the team that just won its first Super Bowl since 2014. As the franchise enters the new year, the management’s decisions on Walker’s contract will likely shape Seattle’s path forward.
