Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider didn’t dodge the Kenneth Walker question on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026.
With Walker’s rookie deal nearing its end and free agency looming, Schneider offered the kind of quote that always makes ears perk up in Seattle. Especially during the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.
“He’s a free agent,” Schneider said. “We’d love to have him back.”
Schneider also praised Walker’s late-season stretch, calling him “explosive” and noting he’s been “more decisive” over the last month and a half, a stretch that helped power Seattle’s run to the Super Bowl.
John Schneider Calls Kenneth Walker “Explosive,” Says Seahawks Want Him Back
The Seahawks have been careful with Walker’s workload at times, but Schneider’s comments on Thursday were pretty straightforward: Seattle still believes in Walker as a cornerstone piece of the offense.
Schneider’s “we’d love to have him back” line matters for two reasons.
First, teams don’t always speak that directly about impending free agents, especially at running back, where front offices are often more guarded. Second, it matches what Walker has expressed publicly about his own preference.
In previous reporting by Heavy, Walker made it clear he’s not looking for a change of scenery just to chase one.
Walker said he wants to be “somewhere that thought of me first” and added, “I love it here,” describing Seattle as “a place I would want to be.”
That’s about as direct as players get this far out from the negotiating window.
This season has been one of Walker’s best as a Seahawk, as he recorded 1,027 yards on 221 carries in the regular season, scoring five times. For his career in Seattle, he has 3,555 yards and 29 touchdowns in four seasons.
What It Means for the Seahawks’ Offseason Plan at RB
Seattle’s backfield situation is fascinating because the Seahawks already have a strong complementary option in Zach Charbonnet, though his injury could add an interesting twist, plus the typical churn of mid-round backs entering the league every spring.
But Walker’s upside is the kind teams spend years trying to find, the home-run element that changes how defenses play you. Even when he’s not ripping off chunk runs, his presence can tilt game plans.
There’s also the reality that Seattle has managed Walker’s usage with an eye on both health and the long season. Reuters reported in November that Walker was in line for “more opportunities” as head coach Mike Macdonald praised his explosiveness and growth, while noting there were still things Walker “needs to clean up.”
That fits the story of the season: Seattle’s staff pushing Walker, challenging him, and then leaning on him when it mattered.
So the Seahawks’ decision tree is pretty clear:
- Re-sign Walker and keep a two-headed backfield that can carry games.
- Let Walker test the market and pivot to Charbonnet as the lead, with cheaper additions behind him.
- Try to thread the needle with a team-friendly deal structure that reflects RB market realities, while rewarding a player they clearly value.
Schneider didn’t get into numbers on Thursday, but he didn’t sound like someone preparing fans for a goodbye, either.
Walker’s Own Words Hint at What He Wants Next
This part matters: Walker isn’t just saying the right things in passing.
When a player says he wants to be somewhere that “thought of me first,” he’s describing a relationship, not just a paycheck.
Seattle also has built a culture where players regularly cite the building, the staff, and the day-to-day environment as reasons they want to stay. Walker’s comments fit that pattern.
Now it turns into timing.
The Seahawks can talk all they want in late January. The real test is whether Seattle backs up Schneider’s “we’d love to have him back” quote when roster-building season hits its annual pressure points.
For now, though, the message is clear: the Seahawks want Kenneth Walker back, and Walker has already signaled the feeling is mutual.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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