Seeing Travis Kelce get animated is nothing new for Kansas City Chiefs fans. Coming into his 14th season, Kelce's passion for the game has fueled multiple championship runs and sets the tone in the locker room. But the way he came alive when asked about the Chiefs' biggest offseason addition is notable all the same.
This spring, the Chiefs finally went all-in at running back with the signing of the reigning Super Bowl MVP, former Seattle Seahawks back Kenneth Walker. The Chiefs landed him with a three-year deal worth nearly $15 million annually, a big-ticket pivot after years of relying on low-level veteran signings and seventh-round draft choices.
On Wednesday, Kelce stood behind the podium to answer reporters' questions for the first time since Chiefs training camp began this year. When asked about Walker's arrival, Kelce lit up.
"Woo! You know, Ken Walker's gonna be a helluva ball player for us, if you didn't know that already," said Kelce. "He's got every trait you could possibly want at the running back position. And on top of that, his mentality, how smart he is, his physicality, his aggression, and how he runs with the football and just plays the game. I can't say enough about him as a teammate."
The Chiefs tight end is always animated but Kenneth Walker's arrival has him on another level.
Kelce's closing remarks on Walker were perhaps the most exciting yet: " We got an absolute superstar on and off the field in No. 9."
The Chiefs certainly hope that's the case. Walker's dynamism was catalytic for the Seahawks' title run, with 65 carries for 313 yards and 4 scores in three postseason games. Walker had 29 touches for 161 yards in Super Bowl LX alone, which netted him the MVP honor, and gave him considerable leverage in the free agent market just one month later.
Kelce's not the only one excited by Walker's addition to the offense. The new level of dynamism in the backfield had Andy Reid excited earlier this offseason when he said, "He's legit. He can take it the distance every time he touches the ball. There's that threat." And in a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports, Mahomes described Walker as "one of the best football players I've ever been around."
For a team that needed to add some real firepower to a stagnant offense predicated on efficiency more than anything, Walker's arrival should lessen the burden on Mahomes to carry the offense. Kelce sees the potential as well and sounds energized just thinking about having the best running back on the roster in several years.
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