Chiefs star addresses heated Kenneth Walker exchange that led to furious outburst

The Kansas City Chiefs were close to their first scuffle of the offseason and it involved their prized offseason addition.

The Chiefs signed running back Kenneth Walker III this offseason, just months after he was named Super Bowl MVP with the Seattle Seahawks.

Getty

It’s a huge boost for Kansas City, who have had lackluster production out of the position in recent years.

Walker wasn’t always 100 percent healthy during his time with the Seahawks, so it’s no surprise tensions nearly boiled over when he was on the receiving end of a late hit in training camp this week.

In a video from Chiefs training camp posted on social media, the team could be seen doing a routine seven-on-seven workout featuring starters.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes found the 25-year-old in open space, before he side-stepped two members of the defense.

The whistle then blew, but linebacker Drue Tranquill wasn’t able to slow down, and collided with Walker who fell to the ground.

Walker quickly rose and attempted to launch the football directly at Tranquill, but gripped it too hard and threw it backwards.

Clearly infuriated, several teammates quickly got infront of Walker and calmed things down.

After practice, Tranquill addressed the interaction between the pair, insisting there is no bad blood.

“Small moment. We’re just competing at the end of the down,” Tranquill said.

“Trying to get the ball out, punch, and then Kenneth’s fired up, throws the ball, and it’s all love.

X / Taylor Burr

X / Taylor Burr

“We’re smiling at each other after the play, but we’re just making each other better rep by rep.

“[We’re] trying to make an emphasis this year on getting the ball out; we need to get the ball out more on defense.”

Walker essential piece of 2026 bounce back

The Chiefs 2025 campaign was the worst in the Mahomes era, as they finished with a 6-11 record and missed the playoffs.

Mahomes himself suffered a torn ACL and LCL and underwent surgery in January.

Looking to relieve some of the pressure off Mahomes, who is considered one of the best quarterbacks of all time, the Chiefs made Walker a priority this offseason.

Kareem Hunt led the Chiefs in rushing yards with just 611, and Isaiah Pacheco didn’t quite take the next step in his development.

Getty

Over his four years in Seattle, Walker accumulated 3,555 yards with 29 touchdowns, and a further 1,005 yards and two touchdowns in the air.

If Walker can channel that intensity on Sundays alongside a fully healthy Mahomes, who is adamant he will be ready by Week 1 against the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs’ path back to the top of the AFC West looks a lot clearer.