Kenneth Walker III becomes 1st running back to win Super Bowl MVP in 28 years

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Kenneth Walker III is running into free agency with a Super Bowl MVP.

Walker capped a prolific postseason with another big performance on the ground to help the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 on Sunday night for a championship.

While the defense carried Seattle for much of the postseason, Walker was once again the engine of the offense by rushing for 135 yards and adding 26 receiving for his third straight 100-yard game from scrimmage in the postseason. He became the first running back since Terrell Davis 28 years ago to win Super Bowl MVP.

“If I would tell myself as a kid right now I wouldn’t have guessed I would have been the one to win MVP," Walker said. "It’s a surreal moment and it doesn’t happen without the guys in the locker room.”

Walker stepped up his game after backfield mate Zach Charbonnet went down with a season-ending knee injury and it couldn't have come at a more important time for the Seahawks or a more opportune time for Walker.

The 25-year-old running back is in the final year of his rookie contract and is slated to become a free agent in 2026. Thanks to his playoff run, Walker figures to be in line for a significant pay bump.

Walker gained 413 yards from scrimmage in the three wins for Seattle this postseason. He became the first player to top 100 yards from scrimmage in every playoff game for a Super Bowl champion since Terrell Davis did it in back-to-back seasons in 1997-98 for the Broncos.

“It means a lot,” Walker said. "It means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to my teammates. We went through a lot of adversity throughout the season. To be able to make it this far is a blessing, with the noise really. As a team we know the only thing that matters is what’s talked about in the organization. So all the outside noise we really ignore. We stuck together throughout the season and we won a Super Bowl for that.”

Making it even sweeter was the fact that his father was in attendance to watch him for the first time in the NFL. Walker said his dad comes to Seattle a lot but doesn't go to games because of the crowds.

But Walker said his agent convinced his father to come on Sunday and he got to see his son shine.

“I didn’t think he would come,” Walker said. "They ended up miking him up and everything. He got out of his comfort zone.”

While fantasy football owners and Walker were sometimes frustrated that he didn't carry a bigger load of the offense, especially in the red zone, in the regular season, the job share with Charbonnet did mean Walker was fresh for the playoffs when he was at his best.

Walker averaged less than 15 touches from scrimmage per game in the regular season when he delivered his first 1,000-yard rushing season since his rookie year.

But he averaged nearly 25 touches per game in the playoffs when he showed he's capable of being a bell-cow back.

“When Charbs goes down everyone was hurting for him because he's an instrumental part of this team,” receiver Cooper Kupp said. “For (Walker) to be able to shoulder the load and step up his game to another level, I'm so proud of him.”

Walker started fast with a 10-yard run on the opening snap and had 55 yards on the ground on a field-goal drive later in the first half for the most by any player on one drive in the Super Bowl in 20 years.

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Seattle Seahawks' Kenneth Walker III smiles after his fourth quarter touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty during the Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, left, and teammate running back Kenneth Walker III celebrate after defeating the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs with the ball during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, right, hands off to running back Kenneth Walker III (9) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) carries during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs against New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Drake Maye was a dependable and steadying force for the New England Patriots this season. The second-year quarterback never got the chance to be that when his team needed him most in the Super Bowl.

Maye was the NFL’s most accurate passer during the regular season and finished second in MVP voting, but he was hounded by the Seahawks' “Dark Side” defense throughout. He threw two touchdown passes, but was sacked six times, had two interceptions and lost a fumble that led to a TD by Seattle in New England's 29-13 loss on Sunday.

“Definitely hurts," Maye said. “They played better than us tonight.”

It was a humbling end for a team that seemed poised to recapture a little of the magic of the Patriots' run of six championships over two decades. Instead, Maye sat after the game with his head down, in grass-stained pants and tears welling in his eyes.

“Family travel all this way to watch us play. Don't ruin their night. Because it sucks and it hurts," Maye said.

Maye finished 27 of 43 for 295 yards and there were few highlights before he and the Patriots finally found some traction in the third quarter. Left tackle Will Campbell gave up two of the sacks on Maye as the Seahawks sent several blitzes to his side of the line.

According to Next Gen Stats, Campbell allowed 14 pressures, the most allowed by any NFL player in a game this season. But Vrabel said no one performance was responsible for the offense's lack of production.

“We can sit here and try to put in on one guy. You'll be disappointed because that will never happen," Vrabel said. “It starts with us as a coaching staff. ... That's never going to change."

Trailing 19-0 after his fumble set up a touchdown pass by Sam Darnold, Maye finally got some time to operate in the pocket and threw a 35-yard TD pass to Mack Hollins.

It brought some life to the Patriots' sideline.

But it was short-lived.

Maye’s pass intended for Kyle Williams was picked off by Julian Love. The Seahawks added Jason Myers’ fifth field goal on their ensuing drive.

Down 22-7, New England’s fate was basically sealed when Maye was picked off by Uchenna Nwosu, who returned it 45 yards for a score.

The Patriots, who came in averaging 18 points per game in the playoffs, were held to 331 total yards.

New England was denied a seventh Lombardi Trophy, which would have broken a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most in NFL history. It was a thudding end to a Cinderella-like season for the Patriots, who finished the regular season 14-3 in coach Mike Vrabel’s first season — which came off back-to-back 4-13 finishes.

“Part of our identity is not being a front-runner,” Vrabel said. "Just like every year, somebody’s gonna lose this game, and we have to remember what it feels like.”

The Patriots fell into a 12-0 halftime hole and punted on eight of their first nine drives. It would have been seven straight, but the final one of the first half was a one-play kneel down.

The 51 total yards gained by the Patriots were the fewest in a first half in the last 35 Super Bowls.

“We couldn't gain any rhythm, any field position," Vrabel said. “Defensively, we were really good against the run and we weren't. We were just playing catch-up.”

It also marked the fifth Super Bowl without a touchdown in the first half. Maye also became first player to be sacked three times on the first four drives of a Super Bowl since Tom Brady in Super Bowl 42 against the New York Giants.

One of the reasons Seattle’s defense was so effective was it did a great job of keeping New England’s offense in long yardage situations on third down. The Patriots had to negotiate third downs of 9, 15, 17, 7 and 12 yards in the first half. They were only 2 of 7 on conversions in the first half.

The most emotion Maye displayed afterward was in thinking about the shortcoming of a group that won’t be the same next season.

“Had that sink in right now. Hopefully a lot of the same faces are here. The nature of the business I know it won't be like that,” Maye said, his voice cracking. “But, this team was awesome.”

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye walks off the field after a loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel celebrates with members of his team after a touchdown during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (13) makes a catch during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) escapes pressure from Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) causing a fumble during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) forces a fumble against New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) at the NFL Super Bowl 60 game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, February 8, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for the NFL)