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Viral moments seem to come out of championship parades these days, for better or for worse.
For Seahawks GM John Schneider, the Super Bowl LX parade in Seattle on Wednesday saw an awkward moment when the game’s MVP, running back Kenneth Walker III, went viral after what he said to the crowd.
Walker had a complete Super Bowl himself, capping a stellar postseason run for the 25-year-old, who was set to hit free agency this offseason with his rookie contract expiring.
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Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks during the celebration of the Super Bowl LX trophy at Lumen Field on February 11, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Well, Schneider, with a red Solo cup in his right hand, decided the podium in front of the whole city, with Walker over his left shoulder, was the best place to start negotiations for a new deal.
“Ken Walker is the MVP, let’s go!” Schneider shouted to the cheering crowd. “He tried to negotiate with me five minutes ago. It was really weird. Anyway, hey, MVP! MVP!”
Walker smiled and shook his head as social media users opined that he looked uncomfortable at the moment. But he later addressed Schneider’s comments on Instagram.
“It must have been a liquor he drank, because I never said dat shi!” he captioned a post on his Instagram Stories with the video of Schneider, accompanied by two laughing emojis.
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider celebrates with fans during the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl LX victory celebration and parade at Lumen Field on February 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Walker carried the Seahawks’ offense throughout the low-key affair until the fourth quarter saw 30 combined points against the New England Patriots. Walker finished with 135 rushing yards on 27 carries while collecting 26 receiving yards on two catches.
In a split backfield with Zach Charbonnet this season, Walker still rushed for 1,027 yards on 221 carries with five touchdowns on the ground and 282 receiving yards on 31 receptions. It was the Michigan State product’s second season of rushing for over 1,000 yards, which includes a breakout rookie campaign after Seattle drafted him in the second round in 2022.
However, the Seahawks did not have their two-headed monster in the backfield in the playoffs when Charbonnet suffered a season-ending injury. Walker made the most of the heavier workload, rushing for 313 yards on 65 attempts with four touchdowns, three of which came in the 41-6 rout of the San Francisco 49ers.
Seattle Seahawks General Manager John Schneider celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots, 29-13. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
It would benefit the Seahawks, who currently have $72.28 million in projected cap space this offseason, to re-sign Walker. His market value is currently projected around $9 million per season by Spotrac, but it could be even higher after his playoff run.
Either way, negotiations will start when both sides are ready to hit the table – sober. The thrill of winning the Super Bowl remains fresh, as it should after a hard-fought season.
