Seahawks general manager John Schneider’s red cup negotiating at Seattle’s Super Bowl 2026 parade on Wednesday quickly turned awkward.

Schneider started to negotiate with himself in public about the contract of Kenneth Walker III, the Seattle running back who was named Super Bowl MVP after rushing for 135 yards on 27 carries.

“Ken Walker being the MVP, let’s go!” Schneider, who appeared a bit tipsy, yelled to nearly a million fans at the parade celebration. “He tried negotiating with me five minutes ago. It was really weird. Anyway. hey, M-V-P! M-V-P!”
Seahawks general manager John Schneider said Kenneth Walker III (right), the Super Bowl MVP, tried negotiating a contract with him five minutes prior. Walker said later on Instagram that was not the case and it might have been the booze talking for Schneider.

But Walker, who was ruefully smiling and shaking his head no while Schneider was negotiating against himself, later hopped on Instagram stories to directly refute what the general manager said, blaming it on booze.
“Must’ve been da liquor he drinking cuz I never said dat shi!” followed by two laughing emojis.

Walker is projected to command north of $13.5 million per year, according to Outkick.

Schneider’s public joke about “negotiating” may have caused Walker’s price tag to tick up a bit for the Seahawks, who have roughly $73 million in cap space, according to Spotrac.
Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks rushes against the New England Patriots during the third quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.

Schneider was apparently flushed with joy after winning his second Super Bowl as the team’s GM, but now may have to do a little fence-mending with Walker after the ill-timed remark.