May 20, 2026, 10:30 AM CUT
Kenneth Walker Sparks Major Shift in Chiefs' Offensive Plans
Feb 9, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III poses with the MVP trophy during the Super Bowl LX winning head coach and most valuable player press conference at Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Feb 9, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III poses with the MVP trophy during the Super Bowl LX winning head coach and most valuable player press conference at Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
After a rough stretch last year for the Kansas City Chiefs, Andy Reid’s offense is gearing up for a massive transformation. Adding running back Kenneth Walker III completely changes how this team attacks the field.
Speaking on the Locked On Chiefs podcast, the host Chris Clark stated the offense could look different if Walker becomes a bigger part of the system.
"You have Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid," the analyst said. "And this offense is going to have changes because of Kenneth Walker. And how are you going to adapt this offense to involve Kenneth Walker in an actual running game, which you haven't had for probably most of the time that Andy Reid's been in Kansas City, period."
Last season, the Chiefs' running backs had a hard time. The team leaned heavily on Kareem Hunt, but most of his carries resulted in modest gains. At the same time, injuries limited Isiah Pacheco, and the staff failed to establish a consistent role for rookie Brashard Smith.
NFL, American Football Herren, USA NFC Championship Game-Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks Jan 25, 2026 Seattle, WA, USA Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III 9 runs against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half in the 2026 NFC Championship Game at Lumen Field. Seattle Lumen Field WA USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xStevenxBisigx 20260125_lbm_ab9_037
NFL, American Football Herren, USA NFC Championship Game-Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks Jan 25, 2026 Seattle, WA, USA Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III 9 runs against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half in the 2026 NFC Championship Game at Lumen Field. Seattle Lumen Field WA USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xStevenxBisigx 20260125_lbm_ab9_037
This season, they face the Denver Broncos in Week 1, and the game plan is expected to feature running right into the defensive gaps. The Chiefs need to get physical fast.
"And for week one against that defense, it's going to be about running to the gap between their nose and their five tech that isn't Zack Allen," co-host Ryan Tracy noted.
This is the kind of role where Walker can thrive. Kansas City has missed a physical running threat. But adding him should give Mahomes more protection and force defenses to play differently.
Rebuilding the Rushing Attack From Under Center With Kenneth Walker
Walker has the talent to be a great running back for the Chiefs, but the coaching staff and system will decide how dominant he becomes.
"Finding the right mix could be the difference between Walker being a top-10 halfback with the Chiefs and a downright elite one," Sports Illustrated's analyst Jordan Foote pointed out. "He's getting paid to be the latter."
The stats totally back this up. Last season, Walker ranked third league-wide with a 9.95% explosive run rate, and his success rate hitting the hole from under center sits at 42.2%, better than when he runs out of the shotgun.
The return of Eric Bieniemy alongside new running backs coach DeMarco Murray could give Kansas City a stronger rushing attack.
Will the Kansas City Chiefs be able to maximize Kenneth Walker III's abilities to get the best out of Patrick Mahomes and their offense? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Written by
Nisarga Aseem Barkule
Edited by
Soheli Tarafdar