HEARTS BEHIND THE GAME: SEAHAWKS STARS TORY HORTON & KENNETH WALKER III LAUNCH LIFE-CHANGING MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH

When the Seattle rain began to fall on a gray Tuesday afternoon, the practice field at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center wasn’t empty. Instead of their usual team drills, wide receiver Tory Horton and running back Kenneth Walker III were surrounded by a group of wide-eyed middle-school kids, their sneakers splashing in puddles as they tried to imitate their heroes’ moves.

For Horton and Walker, this wasn’t another community-service photo op. It was the first official day of their new project — a long-planned mentorship and skills-training program for kids from under-resourced neighborhoods across the Pacific Northwest. The initiative, funded largely out of the players’ own pockets, aims to help young athletes develop not only their physical abilities but also the mental toughness and discipline that football — and life — demand.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PLAYBOOK

The idea was born months ago, after Horton noticed a boy staying late after a Seahawks community clinic. “He didn’t have proper cleats,” Horton recalled, “but he stayed until the last cone was packed up. That kind of hunger doesn’t need a scholarship — it needs someone to see it.”

Walker, who has never forgotten his own upbringing in Arlington, Tennessee, immediately joined in. “We both knew what it was like to dream without the resources,” he said. Together, they began sketching out a plan — part training camp, part mentorship circle — where professional players could pass down not just skills, but the mindset that carried them through adversity.

Each weekend session brings in thirty kids, ages nine to fifteen. The drills are intense, but the conversations that follow often go deeper: about leadership, accountability, fear, and faith. The pair invite local teachers, psychologists, and former athletes to talk about managing emotions, setting goals, and understanding failure as part of growth.

BUILDING SOMETHING BIGGER THAN FOOTBALL

Inside the facility’s meeting room, posters of Seahawks legends line the walls — but this project has no corporate logo, no official sponsor. “We wanted it to be pure,” Horton said. “Just people helping people.”

Both players contribute significant personal funds — paying for transportation, meals, and athletic gear. Horton even brought in his younger brother, an artist, to design the program’s emblem: a blue-and-green torch wrapped in two hands. The torch, Horton explained, represents “passing on light.”

Walker, soft-spoken but deliberate, added, “When you help one kid believe he matters, you’re lighting a fire that outlives your stats, your career, everything.”

IMPACT BEYOND NUMBERS

The effect has been immediate. Parents have begun writing letters to the Seahawks organization, praising the players for treating their kids as equals rather than charity cases. Coaches at local schools say they’ve noticed shifts in attitude — better attendance, more teamwork, stronger focus.

One 13-year-old participant, Malik, said quietly, “They don’t talk to us like we’re poor kids. They talk to us like future pros.”

Horton and Walker read every message. Sometimes, they visit schools unannounced to watch their mentees play. They’ve also partnered with community nonprofits to set up scholarships and tutoring sessions.

A RITUAL OF GRATITUDE

Before each practice or mentorship session, the group gathers in a small huddle. Horton or Walker will ask every participant to name one thing they’re grateful for that day. It can be simple — a healthy breakfast, a good grade, a sunny morning. Then they break the huddle shouting, “Together we rise!”

That ritual, Walker said, started accidentally. “One of the kids said he was thankful just to have a ride to practice. That hit me hard. Gratitude is a muscle — we’re teaching them to flex it.”

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

What many fans don’t know is that the program also grew from a darker chapter in Horton’s and Walker’s lives. Last offseason, Horton lost a cousin to gun violence back home in California. Walker, meanwhile, had been struggling with a knee injury that nearly cost him his season. Both men turned to community service as a way to heal.

“When life knocks you down,” Horton said, “you can stay there, or you can build something from the ground. We chose to build.”

Their teammates soon joined in. Quarterback Geno Smith donated equipment. Safety Julian Love volunteered as a guest speaker. Even head coach Mike Macdonald stopped by one weekend, telling the kids, “These two men are showing you what leadership really means.”

FANS TAKE NOTICE

Social media exploded when the first photos from the mentorship camp surfaced. A clip of Horton kneeling to tie a boy’s shoelaces went viral, drawing comments from across the league. ESPN analysts praised the duo for redefining what “community impact” looks like in professional sports.

In the stands at Lumen Field, fans have begun wearing shirts that read “Together We Rise” — the motto born from those gratitude huddles. Horton calls it “the coolest surprise ever.”

THE LESSON THEY TEACH

During one session, a nervous 12-year-old asked Horton what it takes to “make it.” Horton smiled. “It’s not just about speed or strength,” he said. “It’s about heart — how you treat people when no one’s watching.”

Walker nodded, adding, “The game gave us hope, discipline, and family — now we want to give that same light to kids who’ve never been told they could shine.”

That sentence, captured on a reporter’s phone, has since become the program’s official tagline.

LOOKING AHEAD

The mentorship project now has a waiting list of over 200 applicants. Plans are underway to expand into Tacoma and Portland. Horton dreams of one day building a permanent youth facility, complete with study spaces, nutrition classes, and a free clinic.

“I don’t know where football will take me,” he said, “but I do know this — when my playing days are done, I want to still be out here, coaching life.”

A FINAL DRIVE

As the afternoon light faded, the kids gathered for one last sprint. Horton clapped his hands and shouted, “This is your fourth quarter — finish strong!” The field echoed with laughter and determination. Walker jogged alongside the slowest runner, encouraging him every step.

When practice ended, the two stood side by side, watching the group disperse into the drizzle. Walker finally broke the silence. “You think we’re making a difference?”

Horton smiled. “Look at them — that’s the scoreboard.”