The Kansas City Chiefs have swept the AFC’s September offensive monthly awards, with honors going to running back Kenneth Walker III and rookie offensive lineman Khalil Benson. Walker was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month, while Benson took home AFC Offensive Rookie of the Month.

Both awards carry plenty of history. For a Chiefs offense that spent the last three seasons sliding in the wrong direction, a September sweep like this one carries real weight. September has always been a promising month in the Patrick Mahomes era, but what they’ve seen from Walker and Benson is special.

Kenneth Walker III’s historic start in Kansas City

Walker totaled 442 scrimmage yards (360 rushing and 82 receiving) and four total touchdowns in September. He split those scores evenly, with two rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns.

He became the first player in NFL history with a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in two of his first three games with a team. Walker also became just the fifth player ever with at least 175 scrimmage yards in each of his first two games of a season. He joined Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown (1963) and O.J. Simpson (1975), alongside Paul Hoffer (1980) and Billy Sims (1980). That’s right: nobody had pulled that feat off since 1980.

This is Walker’s first career Player of the Month award. He earned Player of the Week honors after his Week 1 performance against the Denver Broncos. He becomes the third Chiefs running back to win the award in 20 seasons, joining Kareem Hunt (September 2017) and Jerick McKinnon (December 2022). Walker is also the third former Michigan State running back to win it, joining former Chiefs RB Le’Veon Bell and Lorenzo White.

Walker’s hot start has been a huge part of Kansas City’s offensive resurgence. The award validates the team’s decision to covet him and bring him on in 2026 NFL free agency. Plenty of people around the league have called it the single most impactful free-agent signing of the offseason, and if you ask me, it looks very much like that right now.

Khalil Benson’s breakthrough at left tackle

Benson’s story might be even more improbable than initially realized. The undrafted rookie started all three games at left tackle for the Chiefs after not playing the position in college.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Benson allowed seven quarterback pressures on 106 pass-block snaps, the third-fewest among all left tackles. Among rookies with at least 15 pass-blocking snaps, he has the highest one-on-one matchup percentage at 84% (89 of 106).

That number tells you Kansas City isn’t giving him much help in its blocking schemes. Benson is being left on an island, and the team is reaping the rewards. He’s contributed to an offense that has allowed only four sacks, tied for the fifth-fewest in the NFL.

The history here stacks up, too. Benson is just the eighth offensive lineman ever to win Offensive Rookie of the Month. He’s the first to do so since Quentin Nelson (2018), and the first offensive tackle since Michael Oher (2009). Benson is the fifth Chiefs player to win a Rookie of the Month award, joining Kareem Hunt, Eric Berry, Nick Bolton, and Marcus Peters. He’s the first Chief to win it since Bolton in October 2021, and the first offensive player since Hunt in 2017. Benson is also only the second former Indiana player to win a Rookie of the Month award, joining Jordan Howard (2016).

With starting left tackle Josh Simmons dealing with a bulging disc in his back, Benson has stepped up. The drop-off from Simmons to Benson has been nowhere near what you’d expect. Going from undrafted rookie to protecting the blind side of Patrick Mahomes isn’t an easy task. Remember, Mahomes is also coming off a serious knee injury from the prior season, which makes that protection even more important.

What the sweep means for the Chiefs’ offense

This sweep is more proof the Chiefs are moving in the right direction on offense. That side of the ball deteriorated over the last three seasons, and Kansas City needed answers at multiple spots.

Now the Chiefs have two players making NFL history with how they’ve started the 2026 NFL season. One is a high-profile free agent living up to the billing. The other is an undrafted rookie holding down the most important spot on the offensive line.

There are still many games left to be played. However, if September is any indication, Kenneth Walker and Khalil Benson’s success is just getting started.