After Isiah Pacheco went down in Week Two, the Kansas City Chiefs had to scramble to find another running back. Although they had some options on the roster, they decided to call an old friend who had been jettisoned from the team years ago. However, time heals wounds, and this former couch potato came back and made a big statement.
In 2017 and parts of 2018, Kareem Hunt was a key player for the Kansas City Chiefs. He won the rushing title in his rookie year. As Patrick Mahomes was named the starter, the potential of him and Hunt excited the organization, as this duo could be electrifying.
However, a public off-the-field issue interrupted Hunt’s career in mid-2018, and harsh words were used to inform the Kingdom that he was no longer welcome in a Chiefs uniform.
So, he returned to Cleveland, signed with the Browns, received a lengthy suspension, and lost hope of ever returning to Kansas City.
Fast-forward to 2024, and after Pacheco went down, Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid contacted Hunt to discuss the opportunity for him to return to Kansas City. However, even though Reid wanted him back, the Chairman and CEO of the Chiefs, Clark Hunt, needed to approve the move.
He decided to cut Hunt from the team and firmly stated that there would be no return. However, the incident humbling Kareem Hunt led to honest conversations with both Reid and the owner, in which he acknowledged what he had learned from his mistakes.
So, the Chiefs got him off his coach in Cleveland and flew him to Kansas City for a physical. Despite working out on his own, he was remarkably fit.
With this return intact, the Chiefs’ offense started to depend on Hunt from week four, when he proved he could play at a high level. He finished with 200 carries in the regular season, rushing for 727 yards, scoring seven touchdowns, and adding another 176 yards receiving.
He had something to prove, and he proved it. Hunt became the third-down enforcer the Chiefs lacked with Pacheco. Still, his season ended abruptly, and his future in Kansas City was uncertain.
Though he wanted to return to the Chiefs, they had to make the final decision. They did so early in the free agent process.
Now Hunt has a full off-season to shape his body, and all reports suggest he looks chiseled and prepared to return to the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs have a strong group of running backs. Hunt is alongside Carson Steele, Elijah Mitchell, Brashard Smith, and Pacheco. Probably, two of those backs won’t be in Kansas City.
Now, if Reid carries four running backs, then someone will end up on another NFL roster. If it’s three, Hunt, as the short-yardage and most experienced back, should make the final 53-man roster.
The combination of Hunt and Smith could be devastating for the Chiefs’ offense. There are uncertainties around the rookie seventh-round pick from SMU, but he shares some similar traits with Hunt, who was drafted in the third round in 2017.
Still, Hunt valued his time in Kansas City last season and didn’t take it for granted. He wanted to come back and make the most of his opportunity. As a result, the Chiefs rewarded him with a one-year deal and a chance to prove he still has what it takes to succeed in this offense.
If he can regain some of his earlier form, the Chiefs’ focus on running the ball more effectively in 2025 should give Hunt the perfect chance to be the back they rely on when they need to convert a third down or a short-yardage gain
