Seattle Seahawks 29, New England Patriots 13 — Super Bowl 60
Kenneth Walker III carried the Seahawks’ offense with authority in Seattle’s championship win, rushing for 135 yards on 27 carries and adding 26 receiving yards. His performance earned him Super Bowl MVP, the first running back to win the award since Terrell Davis in Super Bowl XXXII.
From College Standout to NFL Prospect
Walker’s football journey began well before that frosty February night in Santa Clara. After starting his collegiate career at Wake Forest, he transferred to Michigan State and exploded onto the national scene in 2021. In his lone season with the Spartans he rushed for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns, earning the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back and helping Michigan State to signature wins and national recognition.
Despite that dominant season, Walker was not a first‑round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was selected 41st overall in the second round by the Seattle Seahawks, the second running back taken after Breece Hall. That draft reflected a broader devaluation of the running back position at the time.
NFL Career Through 2025
Across four NFL seasons through 2025, Walker has been a consistently impactful player:
Rushing: 3,555 yards on 821 carries, about 4.3 yards per carry
Rushing touchdowns: 29
Receiving: 133 catches for 1,005 yards.
Total touchdowns: 31
He made an immediate impact as a rookie in 2022, rushing for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns, joining Curt Warner as one of the few Seahawks rookies to surpass 1,000 rushing yards. Walker followed with strong campaigns in 2023 and 2025, with a 2024 season limited by injuries but still productive when available.
2025 Season and Playoff Surge
The 2025 regular season was especially meaningful. Walker ran for 1,027 yards, his second 1,000‑yard season, while sharing snaps with Zach Charbonnet. After Charbonnet suffered a season‑ending ACL injury in the playoffs, Walker assumed a bell‑cow role and dominated the NFC postseason, totaling over 300 rushing yards and multiple touchdowns , including a 116‑yard, three‑touchdown performance in the Divisional Round.
That playoff momentum carried into Super Bowl 60. Walker’s physical running style and explosive burst helped Seattle control the line of scrimmage in a defensively dominated game. His 135 rushing yards were the most by a player in a Super Bowl since Terrell Davis, and two early runs of 25+ yards set the tone for Seattle’s victory.
Legacy and Valuation
Walker’s Super Bowl MVP is historic for both his career and the running back position. Running backs rarely win the award in the modern era, but his combination of durability, vision, and productivity places him in rare company alongside the likes of Terrell Davis, Marcus Allen, and Emmitt Smith. From a mid‑second‑round pick with modest expectations to the defining player on football’s biggest stage, Walker’s story is one of perseverance, timing, and talent.
As he heads into the offseason and potential free agency, his Super Bowl MVP will be a major factor in his valuation and a milestone in Seahawks history.
Quick Facts
Super Bowl 60 MVP: Kenneth Walker III
Super Bowl performance: 135 rushing yards; 26 receiving yards; key long runs early in the game
College: Wake Forest; Michigan State (Doak Walker Award, 2021)
NFL Draft: 2022, 2nd round, 41st overall (Seattle Seahawks)
(photo courtesy of USA Today)