Kenneth Walker III is an NFL running back who recently agreed to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs after previously playing for the Seattle Seahawks. The deal, reported by NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, is a three-year contract worth $45 million and is believed to be the richest free-agent contract for a running back in league history.
Walker confirmed the news on social media shortly after the report surfaced. The 2026 Super Bowl MVP now joins a Chiefs team looking to rebound after a 6-11 season that ended the franchise’s playoff streak dating back to 2014.
Throughout his career, Walker has frequently credited his family for helping him reach the NFL. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Kenneth Walker III Grew Up in a Large, Close-Knit Family
Walker grew up in a large family with strong support from both parents and six siblings. His parents, Kenneth Walker Jr. and Patricia Brown, raised seven children together.
Walker has three older sisters, one older brother, and two younger brothers. The family has remained close as his career has grown.
“We’re all super close,” Walker told the Big Ten Network. “I got both my parents. I got three older sisters, an older brother and two younger brothers.”
Walker has repeatedly said that the sacrifices made by his parents helped him focus on sports and school.
“Those sacrifices made it much easier for me to do what I do,” he explained.
2. The Chiefs’ New Running Back’s Father Pushed Him Through Intense Training
Walker credits much of his athletic development to the training routines his father created when he was young.
Kenneth Walker Jr. worked nights but spent many of his days exercising.
When his son was just four years old, he began joining those workouts.
“I worked out with my dad 24/7,” Walker told Fox Sports. “There would be times when I didn’t want to work out, and he would make me. And I’m over here crying, I had tears in my eyes while we were working out.”
Walker Jr. said the workouts were intentionally demanding.
“Grown men didn’t want to do the workouts I was putting him through,” Walker Jr. told The Detroit News.
Although Walker did not always enjoy the workouts as a child, he later came to appreciate the discipline his father instilled.
“It brought me to this point in my life, and I thank him for it,” Walker said.
3. Kenneth Walker III’s Parents Moved the Family for a Better Life
Walker spent his early childhood in Memphis, Tennessee before his family relocated to the nearby suburb of Bartlett.
Brown said the move happened after Walker Jr. decided he wanted a different environment for their children.
“His dad came home one day and he was like, ‘Hey, this is not where I want to raise the kids,’ ” Brown told the Big Ten Network.
The family later moved again to Arlington, Tennessee. Walker attended Arlington High School there and developed into one of the area’s top football prospects.
Brown said the move proved to be the right decision.
“We ended up here in Bartlett, Tennessee and that was the best decision he ever made,” she said.
4. Kenneth Walker III’s Mother First Introduced Him to Football
While Walker’s father focused on training, Brown played a major role in introducing him to football.
Walker said his interest in the sport began when his mother took him to watch his uncle play at a local park.
“Then one day my mom signed me up for football,” Walker explained on his YouTube channel. “That’s how I really got into it.”
Even as a young athlete, Walker displayed strong speed and power. He earned his first All-Star honor while playing youth football with the Ellendale Bears.
Although he played several sports growing up, including basketball and baseball, football quickly became his favorite.
“I’ve played a lot of different other sports, but there was always something about football,” Walker said in a Michigan State Spartans video. “That was, like, my favorite thing ever.”
5. The Newest Chief Overcame a Serious Health Scare in High School
Walker’s football future nearly ended before his senior year of high school when he experienced a frightening medical issue.
“I was feeling kind of odd,” Walker recalled in a Michigan State Athletics video. “I woke up and I couldn’t even move because I was in so much pain.”
After he struggled to breathe, Brown took him to the emergency room.
“The doctor came in and asked if he played sports, and I said, ‘Yes sir, he plays football,’ ” Brown said. “He responded, ‘Not anymore.’”
Doctors later discovered that Walker had blood clots in his lungs. He was required to take blood-thinning medication and was initially told he could not play football for nine months.
Walker continued training during that time with his father. By the start of his senior season, he was cleared to return earlier than expected.
He finished that season with more than 1,400 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns, according to the Seattle Seahawks website, helping launch the career that eventually led him to the NFL.
Chiefs’ Kenneth Walker III’s Parents & Huge Family: Five Fast Facts You Need to Know