‘Disappointed You’d Do This,’ ‘Mind Your Own Business’ — Fans Criticize Ex-NFL QB’s Assessment of Patrick Mahomes’ Role in Kenneth Walker III’s Success

Kenneth Walker III is the NFL's leading rusher for a Kansas City Chiefs team that is 5-0 heading into Sunday night. That's when he returns to Lumen Field to face the Seattle Seahawks for the first time since leaving in free agency. He helped Seattle win Super Bowl LX last season.

But this week, the conversation around his success turned to Patrick Mahomes' left hand. ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky broke down what he read as hand signals from the quarterback to Walker in the run game. Two days before kickoff, fans responded with sharp criticism.

Dan Orlovsky's Breakdown of Patrick Mahomes' Hand Signals Draws Fire

Orlovsky posted a clip from ESPN's "NFL Live" that breaks down the Chiefs' running plays.

He pointed to Mahomes' left hand before the snap. On one play against a four-man front, Mahomes balled his hand into a fist, and on another against a five-man front he appeared to raise a single finger.

"I think those hand signals are a way where Patrick is communicating to Kenneth Walker, 'This is what the run game blocking is, code-wise or call side,' and it's giving him an advantage of what to expect when it comes to those blocks," Orlovsky said.

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The breakdown landed while the Chiefs prepared for their trip to Seattle, and some of the replies took aim at his motives. One fan wrote, "Dan out here doing everything he can to try and hurt the Chiefs in order to help his babydoll, Josh Allen."

Another fan also brought the Buffalo Bills quarterback into it: "This is what Dan 'Josh Allen is the greatest QB' Orlovsky will do, snitch. Dan, what is Allen saying to cook?"

Earlier in the week, on Monday, Oct. 19, Orlovsky spoke on "The Pat McAfee Show." He is an MVP voter, and he said, "If MVP voting was happening today, I would vote for Kenneth Walker."

Snitching Complaints Meet a Caveat From Orlovsky's Own Clip

Other replies focused on what the clip might give away. One fan asked, "Do other QB too! Why only snitching on Mahomes"

Another fan predicted that the "Chiefs will have to come up with something else new now."

Orlovsky had addressed that concern in the same clip: "And just for Chiefs fans, this isn't something that's going to make you predictable, or teams are going to be able to steal it."

The criticism may be somewhat overblown. Orlovsky was analyzing tendencies visible on game film, the same kind of material opposing coaches and scouting staffs study each week, and he did not reveal any confirmed Chiefs terminology or proprietary play-call information.

That makes the backlash notable more for how strongly fans reacted to the segment than for any evidence that Orlovsky actually gave Kansas City's opponents something they did not already have access to.

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Others aimed their frustration at Orlovsky personally. "With you being a former QB, I'm disappointed you'd do this," one fan wrote.

Another wrote, "Dan is the worst. Mind your own business."

Another fan came at the segment from a different direction: "If that's true…why is it ESPN worthy? A QB leading his team. Seems pretty routine."

Attention on the Chiefs' ground game follows their move on Walker this offseason. They signed the 26-year-old to a three-year, $43 million contract after his 135-yard MVP performance in the Seahawks' Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots.

Through five games, he has 665 rushing yards on 106 carries, and his 6.3 yards per carry ranks first among 43 qualified rushers. According to Next Gen Stats, his 277 rush yards over expected also rank first among 40 qualified rushers. Pro Football Network's NFL RB Impact Grade has Walker at 96.5 so far this season, making him the top-ranked running back of 45 graded.

His latest game was the Chiefs' 22-6 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 18, when he ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.

PFN posted "the top offensive players from NFL Week 6, per PFN's Impact metrics." Walker was the running back on the list, and three of the linemen who block for him, guards Trey Smith and Kingsley Suamataia and center Creed Humphrey, made it too.

Kickoff on "Sunday Night Football" is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. The Chiefs, first in the AFC West, will face a Seahawks defense that has not allowed a running back to reach 100 yards since Week 8 of the 2024 season.