From Newsweek · Matt Audilet · · 1m 30s
Kenneth Walker III just rewired the Chiefs
One 173-yard night has Jason Kelce saying Kansas City's offense is a different thing entirely.
In brief
One 173-yard night has Jason Kelce saying Kansas City's offense is a different thing entirely. The Chiefs finally have a back who can break a run open, and that changes what the whole offense can do. Originally reported by Newsweek.
A 31-10 opening statement
Kansas City opened the 2026 season at Arrowhead in primetime and handled Denver 31-10. The tone was set on the ground, not through the air.
Walker ran away with it
Kenneth Walker III, the new signing and reigning Super Bowl MVP, put up 173 rushing yards and a touchdown, plus three catches for 18 yards and a second score.
Last year was the opposite
The 2025 run game never got going. Kareem Hunt led with 611 yards, Isiah Pacheco managed 462, and Patrick Mahomes was third on the team with 422.
Mahomes ran until he couldn't
That career-high 422 rushing yards from the quarterback ended in Week 15 with ACL and LCL tears. Leaning on Mahomes to move the ball on the ground was never a plan.
Kelce saw the difference
The ESPN analyst pointed at one number: Chiefs running backs broke off a single 20-plus yard run in all of last season. Walker had two in one game.
“he completely changes the Chiefs offense, they haven't had a back this dynamic in Pats entire career”
Colts are next
Kansas City heads into Week 2 against Indianapolis with a chance to stay unbeaten and show the ground game travels.
Here's the gist
The Chiefs finally have a back who can break a run open, and that changes what the whole offense can do.
