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Viral moments seem to crop up from championship parades these days, for better or worse.
For Seahawks general manager John Schneider, the Super Bowl LX parade in Seattle on Wednesday saw an awkward moment involving the game’s MVP, running back Kenneth Walker III, go viral after what he said to the crowd.
Walker had one heck of a Super Bowl, capping a superb postseason run for the 25-year-old who is set to hit free agency this offseason with his rookie contract ending.
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Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks during the Super Bowl LX trophy celebration at Lumen Field on February 11, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Well, Schneider, holding a red Solo Cup in his right hand, decided that the podium in front of the whole city, with Walker on his left shoulder, was the best place to begin negotiations on a new deal.
“Ken Walker being the MVP, here we go!” » Schneider shouted to the enthusiastic crowd. “He tried to negotiate with me five minutes ago. It was really weird. Anyway, hey, MVP! MVP!”
Walker smiled and shook his head, with social media users thinking he looked uncomfortable in the moment. But he then responded to Schneider’s comments on Instagram.
“It must be alcohol he drank because I never said that, shi!” he captioned a post on his Instagram Stories with Schneider’s video, accompanied by two laughing emojis.
General manager John Schneider of the Seattle Seahawks 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 this low-scoring affair until the fourth quarter saw 30 combined points against the New England Patriots. Walker finished with 135 rushing yards on 27 carries, while also racking up 26 receiving yards on two catches.
In a split backfield with Zach Charbonnet this season, Walker still racked up 1,027 yards on 221 carries with five rushing touchdowns and 282 receiving yards on 31 receptions. It was the Michigan State product’s second season with a 1,000-plus yard rush, which includes a stellar rookie campaign after Seattle drafted him in the second round in 2022.
The Seahawks didn’t have their two-headed monster in the backfield in the playoffs, however, as Charbonnet suffered a season-ending injury. Walker made the most of a heavier workload, totaling 313 yards on 65 attempts with four touchdowns, including three 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 be beneficial for the Seahawks, who currently have $72.28 million in projected cap space this offseason, to re-sign Walker. His market value is currently estimated at around $9 million per season by Spotrac, but it could be even higher after his playoff run.
Either way, negotiations will begin when both sides are ready to come to the table – soberly. The thrill of winning the Super Bowl remains fresh, as it should after a hard-fought season.
