In a surprising turn of events, Pro Bowl running back Kareem Hunt is making his way back to the team that initially drafted him, the Kansas City Chiefs. The 29-year-old running back had a successful meeting with the back-to-back Super Bowl champions on Tuesday, leading to his imminent signing on Wednesday. As reported by CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones, Hunt will be joining the Chiefs on their practice squad for his second tour of duty with the team.
The decision to bring Hunt back into the fold was prompted by starting running back Isiah Pacheco landing on injured reserve. According to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones, Pacheco sustained a fibula injury that will likely sideline him for the next six to eight weeks. With Pacheco out, the Chiefs turned to Hunt to bolster their running back depth.
Hunt’s journey back to Kansas City has been a tumultuous one. After an impressive rookie season in 2017 where he led the NFL in rushing yards, a video surfaced showing Hunt kicking a woman in a hotel. This incident led to his release from the Chiefs in 2018. Hunt then went on to spend the next four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, where he played second fiddle to star running back Nick Chubb.
During his time in Cleveland, Hunt amassed over 2,000 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, all while maintaining a respectable 4.0 yards-per-carry average. He also proved to be a threat in the passing game, catching 147 passes for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns. In the 2023 season, Hunt stepped up in Chubb’s absence due to injury, tallying a career-high nine rushing touchdowns despite averaging a career-low three yards per carry.
Now, Hunt faces the challenge of familiarizing himself once again with head coach Andy Reid’s playbook. He is expected to share the backfield duties with veteran Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele. The Chiefs’ offense will no doubt benefit from the return of Hunt, as his versatile skill set adds another dimension to an already potent attack. As Hunt prepares to make his comeback in Kansas City, fans will be eager to see how he fits into the Chiefs’ plans for the rest of the season.