Patrick Mahomes knows Kenneth Walker III is heading into an emotional return to Seattle, where the running back spent the first four seasons of his NFL career and helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX last season. But the Chiefs quarterback made one thing clear: Kansas City is firmly behind its new teammate.
“He knows we’ve got his back,” Mahomes said Wednesday, Oct. 21, while discussing Walker’s upcoming reunion with his former team. Mahomes acknowledged the significance of returning to the place where Walker built his professional career, while emphasizing that the Chiefs still have a game to win.
The matchup comes after Walker delivered another standout performance in Kansas City’s 22-6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. With 128 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, the running back has quickly become a central part of the Chiefs’ offense as they prepare to visit Seattle on Sunday night.
Mahomes offers support ahead of Walker’s return
Mahomes recognized that playing against a former team can carry an emotional weight beyond an ordinary regular-season matchup. Walker will return to the stadium where he developed into a major NFL contributor and celebrated a championship with Seattle.
The Chiefs quarterback said the Seahawks’ fans and the teammates Walker grew alongside helped shape his career. That history makes the reunion meaningful, even as Kansas City prepares to approach the contest like any other important game.
Mahomes also kept the focus on the team’s immediate objective. The Chiefs want to win in Seattle, and Walker’s personal connection to the opponent does not change the preparation required from everyone wearing Kansas City colors.
Walker arrives in Seattle in outstanding form
Walker’s first five games with Kansas City have produced 665 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. According to the Chiefs, no player in NFL history had recorded more rushing yards through his first five games with a new team.
He has averaged 6.3 yards per carry, showing the explosiveness and efficiency that Kansas City hoped to add to its offense. His production has also helped take pressure off Mahomes by giving opposing defenses another threat to account for.
Walker has contributed as a receiver, too, recording 14 catches for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns during that opening stretch. His ability to influence games on the ground and through the air gives the Chiefs more options when they face defensive adjustments.
His performance against the Chargers showed his value
Walker rushed for 128 yards on 19 carries in the Chiefs’ Week 6 win over Los Angeles. He scored twice, helping Kansas City maintain its unbeaten record and providing a powerful answer to questions about the offense’s balance.
His first touchdown came on a 33-yard run in the opening quarter. Walker later scored from 2 yards out, with Mahomes helping block during the play as Kansas City extended its advantage before halftime.
The performance continued a remarkable start to his Kansas City tenure. Walker has topped 100 rushing yards in 4 of his first 5 games with the Chiefs, making him one of the offense’s most consistent sources of production.
Walker’s Seattle years make the reunion meaningful
Seattle selected Walker in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and he spent his first four NFL seasons with the Seahawks. Across that period, he established himself as a productive runner and an important part of the team’s offense.
His time in Seattle reached its high point last season, when the Seahawks won Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots. Walker earned Super Bowl MVP honors, placing him among the players who made a decisive impact on the championship run.
Now, he returns to Lumen Field wearing a different uniform. The stadium, the crowd and many familiar faces will be part of the setting, but Walker’s responsibilities have changed: he is now helping Kansas City pursue its own goals.
Andy Reid and the Chiefs value Walker’s running style
Chiefs coach Andy Reid has praised Walker’s vision, patience and ability to set up runs. Those skills can make a difference when an offensive line does not immediately create a clear lane, allowing a running back to wait for an opening.
Walker’s production has also helped Kansas City remain dangerous even when injuries affect other offensive contributors. In the Chargers game, the Chiefs were without wide receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton, while right tackle Jaylon Moore left with a concussion and tight end Travis Kelce dealt with an ankle issue.
A strong running game gives Mahomes another way to move the ball and keeps defenses from focusing exclusively on the passing attack. Walker’s early impact has helped make Kansas City’s offense more versatile and difficult to predict.
Seattle presents a difficult challenge
The Seahawks enter the Week 7 matchup at 3-3, while Kansas City arrives at 5-0. Seattle will have the advantage of playing at home, where familiarity with the stadium and crowd can help create a challenging environment for visiting teams.
For Walker, the challenge will include facing a defense that knows his tendencies from his years in Seattle. The Seahawks have seen his movement, running style and strengths in practice and games, giving them a different perspective from a typical opponent.
Kansas City will need to execute across all phases rather than rely on Walker alone. Mahomes has emphasized the importance of winning the game, and that will require sound blocking, smart decisions and defensive consistency against a familiar opponent.
The Chiefs are focused on winning, not the storyline
Walker has played down the personal side of his return, saying after the Chargers game that he was focused on reviewing mistakes and improving. His response fits the approach Mahomes described: acknowledge the moment, then concentrate on the football.
The Chiefs have more than Walker’s reunion at stake. Their 5-0 start has put them in a strong early position, and a road win would extend their unbeaten run while giving the team another opportunity to sharpen its performance.
Mahomes’ public support nevertheless sends a clear message about the locker room. Walker is not expected to shoulder the emotional weight of the reunion alone; Kansas City wants him to feel supported as he prepares to help the team win.
Fun fact: Patrick Mahomes became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win both the NFL MVP award and the Super Bowl MVP award in the same season.
TL;DR
- Patrick Mahomes said Kenneth Walker knows the Chiefs “have his back” ahead of his return to Seattle.
- Walker spent his first four NFL seasons with the Seahawks and earned Super Bowl LX MVP honors last season.
- He has rushed for 665 yards and 6 touchdowns in his first 5 games with Kansas City.
- Walker ran for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 22-6 win over the Chargers.
- The undefeated Chiefs are scheduled to face Seattle on Sunday night, Oct. 25.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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