Call Seahawks RB ‘Thundershoes' Kenneth Walker by his new title: Super Bowl MVP

At 8:12 p.m. Sunday, in the bowels of Levi's Stadium, a 25-year-old man approached two doors, one to his left and another to his right.

He chose right. It was wrong. He was stopped by two yellow-jacketed members of the security and redirected.

It was perhaps the only bad move Kenneth Walker made all evening.

The Seahawks running back became the first player at his position to earn Super Bowl MVP honors in 28 years by rushing for 135 yards on 27 carries in a 29-13 romp over the Patriots in Super Bowl LX, a game in which he had 61 more total yards (139-78) than New England when Seattle had a 12-0 lead after three quarters.

Walker was nicknamed "Thundershoes" as an eighth grader in Arlington, Tenn., but ran more like lightning Sunday: He had three of the Seahawks' four longest plays, runs of 30 and 29 yards and a 20-yard reception, before his 49-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run that was negated by a holding penalty.

Walker pocketed $178,000, the winner's share, for the victory. But he might have added millions more to future bank account after stylishly capping a three-game postseason run that included 313 yards on 65 carries, nine catches for 104 yards and four touchdowns.

Walker will be an unrestricted free agent in March. Is general manager John Schneider concerned Walker became more expensive over the past month?

"I'm happy for him," Schneider said. "You want to see people be able to take care of their families and do whatever they can do to increase their earning power."

Said tight end Eric Saubert: "It couldn't happen to a better person."

And wide receiver Rashid Shaheed: "He's a super humble guy, man. He probably won't talk about this at all, but he deserves it."

It was easy to see why the soft-spoken Walker is so popular after observing him leave the Seahawks' locker room and walk over to a nearby news conference room, getting stopped by security before he entered. Before he strode up a few stairs to a stage that included a table and two chairs, he hesitated and looked at a member of the NFL's public-relation staff: Could he sit in either chair? Later, after his eight-minute meeting with reporters was over, he made it clear all that attention really wasn't his thing as he walked back to the locker room.

"That was the most questions ever," he said, smiling and shaking his head.

Walker should be used to some of the fuss over him considering the last month wasn't a sudden star turn. A second-round pick from Michigan State, he's had 4,560 total yards and two 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his four-year career. But he reached another level Sunday by becoming the first running back to earn Super Bowl MVP honors since Terrell Davis in January 1998.

The near-30-year drought is partly a reflection of how the position has been deemphasized in the increasingly pass-happy NFL. The highest-paid wide receiver, Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase, has an average annual salary of $40.25 million. The highest-paid running back, Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley, earns $20.6 million.

"Back in the day, people used to love running backs," Walker said. "So I just hope we get that same energy back."

Eight years ago, Walker wasn't dreaming of starring in a Super Bowl. He was just hoping to play football again. In the spring of 2018, before his senior season, Walker's mother, Shaunteshia Brown, rushed him to the emergency room after he struggled to breathe after waking up. Tests revealed Walker had blood clots in his lungs and the standout at Arlington High School was told he might have played his last snap.

"I just thought football was over," Walker said. "That's all what I was doing all my life, so it was a shocking moment."

Walker made a full recovery after a three-month period during which he was on blood thinners and took two shots a day. He rushed for 1,403 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior and earned a scholarship to Wake Forest, where he played for two seasons before transferring to Michigan State.

"It just made me grateful for each and every day," Walker said. "To be able to go out there and strap up and play this game and just still be alive."

Walker brightened Sunday night at a happier memory: How he got his "Thundershoes" moniker.

"How did you know about that?" he asked a reporter. "That's crazy."

The story? In junior high, Walker's mom bought him cleats that lit up whenever he took a step, meaning he'd flash down the field during his long runs. However, the nickname didn't travel with Walker once he graduated high school, which is why he was caught off-guard by the question Sunday.

Years after being known as "Thundershoes," Walker, as of Sunday night, goes by Super Bowl MVP. It's not as catchy, but it will last forever.

This article originally published at Call Seahawks RB ‘Thundershoes' Kenneth Walker by his new title: Super Bowl MVP.