The Kansas City Chiefs began their 2026 season on the right foot, as they dismantled the Denver Broncos 31-10 on “Monday Night Football.” Not only did the return of superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes play a big factor in the win, but Kenneth Walker III also had a phenomenal performance in his first game with Kansas City.
Walker signed with the Chiefs this past offseason on a three-year, $43 million contract after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks, including being named Super Bowl LX MVP in Seattle’s victory over the New England Patriots last season.
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Walker had one of, if not the best game of his career on Monday against Denver, carrying the ball 23 times for 173 yards and one touchdown. He was also a factor in the passing game, hauling in three receptions for 18 yards and one more score.
On Wednesday, after Walker’s incredible performance, the Chiefs shared that the star running back was named the Week 1 AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
“No surprise here. The AFC Offensive Player of the Week is @Kenneth_Walker9 🔥,” the Chiefs said on X.
This is the second time in Walker’s career that he has been given this honor, as he was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week once in 2023 during his time with the Seahawks.
During his four seasons in Seattle, Walker totaled 821 carries for 3,555 yards and 29 touchdowns. Despite his solid numbers, he never got the bulk of the touches out of the backfield with the Seahawks, as he split time with others like Zach Charbonnet. Now, as the starter with the Chiefs, he seems to be flourishing.
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Walker and the Chiefs will next take on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium. The game will be live on NBC.
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