Kenneth Walker III has been the Seattle Seahawks' leading rusher for four straight years. This season, the title carries extra weight.

Walker has become essential to the Seahawks' surprising run to the top of the NFC West under second-year head coach Mike Macdonald. He's on pace to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards for the second time in his career, and Seattle sits just two wins away from clinching the NFC's No. 1 seed.

The Rams Moment That Changed Everything

Walker rushed for 100 yards against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16—his first century mark since Week 2. That game showcased the Seahawks' ability to fight back from a 16-point deficit, ultimately winning on a controversial two-point conversion that required replay review.

"At first, I wasn't even thinking about the whole situation. But we call it EAT drill, and if the ball is on the ground, we want to end up with the ball no matter what—defense, offense or special teams," Walker explained of the play where Zach Charbonnet recovered the ball in the end zone.

The defensive adjustment mattered. The offensive line executed at a higher level. Most importantly, the Seahawks didn't flinch.

"I think it's important to go through adversity. We were down by 16 points, and being able to see the team fight, come back and nobody flinched. We were able to showcase our heart through that game. And I think that's important."

The Charbonnet Connection

Walker and running back Zach Charbonnet have formed an effective backfield tandem, with neither competing against the other—only against opponents.

"It's been good to be able to feed off each other. We always talk about that at practice. We're never really competing against each other, but the other team and whoever is across from us. I always support him, just like he supports me. It's been great to have him in my corner."

Macdonald's Winning Culture

Walker credits head coach Mike Macdonald with creating a winning mentality that permeates the roster.

"It's just good to play for someone who really wants to win. And you can feel that energy. He really wants to win. He wants to put us in positions to win. He wants what's best for the players and the organization."

Sam Darnold's Steady Hand

Quarterback Sam Darnold has emerged as a crucial piece down the stretch, combining leadership with an unexpectedly dry sense of humor that keeps the locker room loose.

"He's a real funny, energetic person. But he's also a leader. We went through some adversity in that game with a couple turnovers, but like I said, he never flinched. But he has that same mentality, not too high and not too low. He's just mellow, so it's great to have him."

On Darnold's comedic style: > "He's real sarcastic, and like you said, a real dry sense of humor. First, you think he's serious, but the whole time, he'll be joking."

The Father's Legacy

Walker's discipline traces directly to his father, Kenneth Walker Jr., who transformed their Memphis home into a training compound.

"Going back to my dad, that's who really instilled that in me as a kid. I probably was four when I started working out, and I worked out with my dad 24/7. There would be times when I didn't want to work out, and he would make me."

The upstairs featured ellipticals, treadmills, and bikes. The backyard housed a wrestling mat and additional equipment. Escape was impossible.

"No, you were stuck bro," Walker laughed.

He wrestled from fifth through eighth grade, winning state at 155 pounds before focusing exclusively on football. His go-to move: the ankle pick.

Playing Against Legends

Walker got his chance to face Philip Rivers, the 44-year-old quarterback who came out of retirement. His father had been a Rivers fan years earlier.

"Growing up as a kid, you wouldn't think that you would get a chance to play against someone like that."

Was he surprised by Rivers' performance after five years away from the league?

"Yes and no. I wasn't really surprised because he's been doing it for a minute, it's just that to go from being out of the league and come back and do that is crazy, but I guess he's just got it like that."

Almost Quit in High School

The turning point came during Walker's junior year when conflict with a coach nearly drove him from football entirely. His parents intervened with crucial advice.

"They just told me not to make a decision based on emotion."

That coach, Andrew Atkins, the former defensive coordinator at Arlington High School, remained in Walker's corner. When his parents couldn't drive him to a Wake Forest recruiting visit, Atkins made the 10-hour drive himself—20 hours round trip.

"That stuck with me, and I appreciate him for that. And we definitely still talk."

Off-Field Notes

Walker's fashion preferences lean toward double-breasted suits and streetwear, based on a simple philosophy: "When you look good, you feel good and you play good."

As for Memphis barbecue? The city's most famous export surprisingly doesn't appeal to him. Instead, he favors Ching's Hot Wings—specifically the honey gold chicken wings.