Coach Mike Macdonald at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, on how his life's changed from the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl 60 win. Macdonald spoke at the Indiana Convention Center. By Gregg Bell
The Super Bowl champions have some early good news about one of their featured backs.
No, not Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker.
It’s about the running back who is actually under contract for next season.
Zach Charbonnet had surgery last weekend to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. He got the injury early in Seattle’s divisional-playoff win over San Francisco Jan. 17. The typical recovering time for reconstructive knee surgery following ACL tears is eight to 12 months.
Do the Seahawks have an estimate on when Charbonnet can resume football-related activities?
“Short answer is, no,” coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday, at the NFL scouting combine, off the podium on the floor of the Indiana Convention Center.
“The funkier answer is, it’s more optimistic than it was initially. So that’s exciting on like, being able to come back at an earlier time.”
As in, for the 2026 season beginning in September?
“It’s hard to put a timetable on those things,” Macdonald said.
“If you’re betting on anybody, you’re going to bet on Zach. So, you know, we’ll go from there.
“But he’s not gonna do anything in the spring. He just had the surgery a couple days ago. They had to let it calm down.”
Seahawks players, including running backs Cam Akers and Zach Charbonnet and tight end AJ Barner celebrate during the Super Bowl parade on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Seattle. Liesbeth Powers lpowers@thenewstribune.com
Charbonnet led the Seahawks with 12 rushing touchdowns this past regular season. That was in his job share with Walker. Charbonnet’s rushing scores were the fifth-most in the NFL. He became the first Seahawk with double-digit TDs in a season since Marshawn Lynch in 2014. That was Seattle’s last Super Bowl season before this one.
Charbonnet’s recovery relates to how the Seahawks proceed in contract negotiations here in Indianapolis this week with the agents for Walker.
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) comes off the field en route to the blue tent during the second quarter of the NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field, on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. Brian Hayes bhayes@thenewstribune.com
Kenneth Walker’s future
Charbonnet is signed through 2026. Seattle drafted him in the second round in 2023, a year after the team drafted Walker in the same round.
Walker’s contract expired with his 135-yard, MVP performance in the Seahawks’ win over New England in Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8.
General manager John Schneider is meeting this week with Walker’s agents at the combine. It’s the GM’s first extended talks with them on a possible new deal for Walker before free agency begins March 9.
That’s because Walker only recently hired David Canter, Ness Mugrabi and Brian McIntyre of the Florida-based Aura Sports Group. He did that the week of the NFC championship game late last month. Walker did that looking ahead to these two weeks right now. Schneider and Seattle have been like all NFL team decision-makers have been for years: Reluctant to give huge, multiyear, second contracts to running backs. They are the sport’s most-injured players, with the shortest career span.
This just-finished one was the first season of Walker’s pro career he played in all 17 regular-season games. That job share with Charbonnet helped preserve Walker. He played under 50% of the offensive snaps in 2025.
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) is tackled during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. Hector Amezcua
Schneider and the Seahawks had projected a contract value for Walker for 2026 all year with the condition that Charbonnet would be beginning next season in Seattle’s backfield.
Now, that’s in legitimate doubt — though Schneider did not rule out Charbonnet returning in time for the 2026 opener in September.
“I wouldn’t put anything past him,” Seattle’s GM said. “I mean, there was a point that we really didn’t even know what’s going on. He just such a strong, powerful person. His work ethic, incredible.
“So I wouldn’t put anything past him.”
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) carries the ball as Los Angeles Rams defenders close in during overtime at Lumen Field, on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Seattle. Liesbeth Powers lpowers@thenewstribune.com
All this could change how Schneider and the Seahawks handle Walker’s contract talks. It could raise the price they are willing to pay to retain him.
Wednesday at the combine, his coach talked in the future tense with the 2026 Seahawks and beyond when asked to assess Walker’s 2025 season. He rushed for 1,000 yards for the first time since his rookie season of 2022.
“We won a Super Bowl with him as our lead back. That’s pretty good,” Macdonald said.
“I don’t know what his stats are. But I know he affected the game, every game in a pretty significant manner. I thought he had a heck of a season.
“And I think it can get even better.
“He’s so talented, it’s just like, let’s keep pushing the envelope, man, let’s take it to the next level.”
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. Hector Amezcua