Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III runs the ball during training camp on Friday, July 31, 2026 in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
When the Kansas City Chiefs signed running back Kenneth Walker III during the offseason, it filled an obvious need.
In 2025 the Chiefs run game ranked just 25th in the NFL, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes accounted for almost one-fourth of the team’s 1,812 rushing yards.
Most significantly, the Chiefs also lacked big-chunk plays. Kareem Hunt had a 33-yard run, but Isiah Pacheco’s longest run was just 16 yards.
“Certainly, we want to get more explosive in the run game,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said at the 2026 NFL Combine. “It would take a lot of pressure off of Pat.”
