Kenneth Walker III tore through the Raiders’ defence with a 76-yard run and two late touchdowns, powering the Kansas City Chiefs to a 30-27 victory on Sunday and keeping the team undefeated this season. The former Seattle Seahawks running back’s impact has stirred debate after his $45 million move to Kansas City, with former NFL star Dez Bryant blaming Seattle for effectively handing the championship to the Chiefs by letting Walker go.
Bryant, a nine-season NFL veteran, expressed his view on X on Tuesday, writing, “I want to go on record and say the Seahawks gave the championship to the Chiefs this year by letting Walker go…” His post quickly gained over 190,000 views, reflecting strong interest in the issue.
Walker’s exit from Seattle came after the Seahawks declined to use the franchise tag on him. The running back then signed a three-year deal with the Chiefs valued at up to $45 million, including $28.7 million guaranteed. The move followed Walker’s standout performance as Super Bowl LX MVP, where he rushed for 135 yards in the Chiefs’ win over the Patriots.
Kansas City’s faith in Walker has paid off immediately. Through four games, he leads the NFL with 537 rushing yards and averages 6.2 yards per carry. His production has been a bright spot for a Chiefs ground game that ranked 25th last season, when the team finished 6-11.
Seattle, meanwhile, has taken a different approach. The Seahawks retained other key players such as receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who signed a four-year extension. Seattle currently holds a 3-1 record after a 30-23 win over the Chargers, which makes Bryant’s criticism more striking but far from definitive.
Walker’s early season numbers are rewriting Chiefs history. He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Month honours for September after leading the NFL with 360 rushing yards and 41 broken tackles in the opening three games. He is the first Chiefs player to receive a monthly award since Patrick Mahomes in November 2022.
Sunday’s game added to Walker’s growing highlights. His 76-yard sprint against the Raiders is the longest run in the NFL this season. He also scored twice in the fourth quarter, with the touchdowns coming just 19 seconds apart. Walker’s total rushing yards through four games are the most ever recorded by a Chiefs player.
The running back has already scored six touchdowns this season, surpassing the combined total of nine by all Chiefs running backs in 2025. He has also produced six runs of 20 or more yards, doubling the entire team’s output from last year.
Kansas City is now 4-0 and will take a bye in Week 5 before hosting the Chargers. Seattle sits at 3-1 and will face the San Francisco 49ers next. The two teams meet on October 25 at Lumen Field in a Sunday Night Football game, where Walker will face the franchise that let him walk.
The debate over Seattle’s decision is likely to intensify as Walker continues his strong start in Kansas City.
According to Yahoo Sports.
