Seattle’s championship-winning running back Kenneth Walker III appears headed for free agency after reports indicate the Seahawks will not use their franchise tag to retain the Super Bowl LX Most Valuable Player.
According to ESPN’s Tuesday report, Walker will become an unrestricted free agent when the new NFL league year opens next week. The news came on the same day the New York Jets used their franchise tag on running back Breece Hall, who now has until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal or will earn $14.293 million for the 2026 season.
Should Walker join a different team next season, he would make history as only the fourth Super Bowl MVP to change uniforms the year after winning the award. The previous three players to accomplish this feat were Larry Brown following Super Bowl XXX, Desmond Howard after Super Bowl XXXI, and Dexter Jackson following Super Bowl XXXVII.
Teams face a Tuesday 4 p.m. ET deadline to apply franchise tags to players.
Walker delivered a stellar performance in Seattle’s 29-13 championship win against New England on February 8, accumulating 135 rushing yards to earn MVP recognition.
The Michigan State product, selected in the second round of the 2022 draft, is completing his initial four-year rookie deal that paid him $8.4 million total.
Following a regular season where he gained 1,027 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns, Walker elevated his play during the postseason. He compiled 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns across Seattle’s three playoff contests, stepping into an expanded role after Zach Charbonnet suffered a season-ending knee injury during the divisional round victory against San Francisco.
Throughout his four-year tenure in Seattle, Walker has accumulated 3,555 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground, while adding 133 receptions for 1,005 yards and two receiving scores across 58 regular-season appearances, including 54 starts.
