Walker first running back to win MVP in 28 years

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Kenneth Walker III is running into free agency with a Super Bowl MVP.Walker capped a prolific postseason with another big performance on the ground to help the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 on Sunday for a championship.While the defense carried Seattle for much of the postseason, Walker was once again the engine of the offense by rushing for 135 yards and adding 26 receiving for his third straight 100-yard game from scrimmage in the postseason. He became the first running back since Terrell Davis 28 years ago to win Super Bowl MVP."If I would tell myself as a kid right now I wouldn't have guessed I would have been the one to win MVP," Walker said. "It's a surreal moment and it doesn't happen without the guys in the locker room."Walker stepped up his game after backfield mate Zach Charbonnet went down with a season-ending knee injury and it couldn't have come at a more important time for the Seahawks or a more opportune time for Walker.The 25-year-old running back is in the final year of his rookie contract and is slated to become a free agent in 2026. Thanks to his playoff run, Walker figures to be in line for a significant pay bump.Walker gained 413 yards from scrimmage in the three wins for Seattle this postseason. He became the first player to top 100 yards from scrimmage in every playoff game for a Super Bowl champion since Terrell Davis did it in back-to-back seasons in 1997-98 for the Broncos."It means a lot," Walker said. "It means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to my teammates. We went through a lot of adversity throughout the season. To be able to make it this far is a blessing, with the noise really. As a team we know the only thing that matters is what's talked about in the organization. So all the outside noise we really ignore. We stuck together throughout the season and we won a Super Bowl for that."Making it even sweeter was the fact that his father was in attendance to watch him for the first time in the NFL. Walker said his dad comes to Seattle a lot but doesn't go to games because of the crowds.But Walker said his agent convinced his father to come on Sunday and he got to see his son shine."I didn't think he would come," Walker said. "They ended up miking him up and everything. He got out of his comfort zone."While fantasy football owners and Walker were sometimes frustrated that he didn't carry a bigger load of the offense, especially in the red zone, in the regular season, the job share with Charbonnet did mean Walker was fresh for the playoffs when he was at his best.Walker averaged less than 15 touches from scrimmage per game in the regular season when he delivered his first 1,000-yard rushing season since his rookie year.But he averaged nearly 25 touches per game in the playoffs when he showed he's capable of being a bell-cow back."When Charbs goes down everyone was hurting for him because he's an instrumental part of this team," receiver Cooper Kupp said. "For (Walker) to be able to shoulder the load and step up his game to another level, I'm so proud of him."Walker started fast with a 10-yard run on the opening snap and had 55 yards on the ground on a field-goal drive later in the first half for the most by any player on one drive in the Super Bowl in 20 years.