Kenneth Walker III is absolutely *flying* for the Kansas City Chiefs right now, racking up an insane 537 rushing yards and four touchdowns already this season, helping them kick off 4-0. For us in the Emerald City, it’s a mix of “holy cow, good for him” and “man, that used to be *ours*.”
K9’s Explosive Start Has Chiefs Rolling
Just think about it, K9 is on pace to shatter the NFL record with an unbelievable 2,282 rushing yards. That’s *wild*. And get this, Patrick Mahomes hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since he became the starter way back in 2018. K9 could hit that mark by midseason for KC. He’s totally changed their offense, taking pressure off Mahomes and balancing things out so defenses can’t just tee off on the pass. He knew this season could be special from how they worked in OTAs and training camp.
From Super Bowl Hero to Free Agency Uncertainty: K9’s Path to KC
Remember all that uncertainty K9 faced after he helped our Seattle Seahawks win the Lombardi Trophy in February? Free agency for the first time, not knowing where he’d land. He even talked about it on the AP’s “Football Unfiltered” podcast, saying it was “a lot during the offseason, not knowing where you’ll end up at.” Huge shoutout to his agents and his pops for helping him through. Now he’s with the Chiefs, calling it “a blessing.”
And Mahomes? He *wanted* Walker. While he was recovering from ACL surgery, he was reportedly texting GM Brett Veach repeatedly about K9 during the NFL playoffs. You know, when K9 was lighting it up for us with 312 rushing yards and four TDs in three playoff games, including that monster 135-yard, 27-carry effort in our 29-13 Super Bowl win against New England. The trust between them is real, too. K9 said their off-field talks, where it’s not always about football, mean “a lot.” And the confidence Mahomes has in him on the field, “even just throwing me the ball or relying on me for anything,” that’s huge. What surprised Walker most about Kansas City’s culture was their tough work ethic. He called training camp “a grind” with “hot days and early mornings, late nights,” saying it makes games easier.
Meanwhile, Down in Tampa Bay…
Okay, switching gears completely, down in Tampa Bay, things are looking… not great. Bruce Arians brought Todd Bowles in as defensive coordinator in 2019, wanting him as his successor. Bowles took over when Arians abruptly retired in 2022, and he actually led the Buccaneers to three straight NFC South titles, even winning a playoff game. But since a 6-2 start last season, they’re 2-11. Bowles is definitely on the hot seat. Arians himself said on “Football Unfiltered” that “the talent’s not the issue.” He praised GM Jason Licht for building a “heck of a roster” and stressed the importance of the GM and head coach being “tied at the hip.” Looks like something’s just not clicking there.
What a start for K9, truly special. And for the Bucs, well, it’s clear they need to figure some things out fast. It’s still early in the season, but those kinds of trends can stick.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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