As expected, the Seattle Seahawks thanked Kenneth Walker III for his services and showed him the door after the season. Not even an impressive run in the playoffs and earning Super Bowl MVP honors was enough to make general manager John Schneider spend big bucks to keep him in town.
The Kansas City Chiefs gave Walker a four-year, $36 million contract, and it was an easy decision for him. Moreover, they brought back former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and that only made the partnership all the more appealing.
Bieniemy, a well-known running back guru, can help take his game to new heights, and he's not going to waste a second to get the ball rolling. In a recent interview with Kay Adams, Walker revealed that his new OC has already let him know what he's doing wrong:
"From the first night I met him, we were just meeting up (and) going to dinner. He was talking about, like, stuff that I did wrong on the field, and just talking about everything I need to be detailed at," Walker recalled with a smirk.
Eric Bieniemy can make the Seattle Seahawks regret moving on from Kenneth Walker III
Bieniemy is known for his tough love and no-nonsense approach, and while that might not be for everyone, his track record speaks for itself. Just last season, he helped the Chicago Bears average 144.5 rushing yards per game, the third-most in the league. He did so with a running back corps consisting of D'Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai, so he can certainly work wonders with Walker.
The Chiefs haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since rookie Kareem Hunt. With Patrick Mahomes coming off a major injury and no competition for touches, Walker will be a true workhorse, arguably for the first time in his career.
Of course, his usage in Seattle was always high, but he won't have Zach Charbonnet to take goal-line carries away from him in Kansas City. He should be looking at career highs in touches, rushing yards, and touchdowns in his first year in Missouri.
Walker was always a fan favorite in Seattle, and watching him go out with a bang was not only a vindication of his skills but also the perfect full-circle way to say goodbye.
The Seahawks may have landed a great replacement in Jadarian Price, but he's a rookie, and it might be a while before he gets a hold of the wear and tear of being a primary ballcarrier after being a backup for most of his collegiate career.
Watching Walker suit up for another team will be tough, and with Bieniemy's history of developing running backs, he might make Schneider regret letting him walk.
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