Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt is in the Super Bowl for the first time in his eight years playing in the NFL. All thanks to a second chance warranted to him by the team’s head coach and GM.
In a press conference, Hunt reflected on the events that led to him reuniting with the team that jump-started his career.
Hunt was a rookie sensation for Kansas City in 2017. But after a video surfaced, proving Hunt had lied about his involvement in a domestic violence incident in February 2018, the Chiefs released the then 23-year-old on November 30, 2018.
Hunt was devastated. Over the next five seasons as a member of the Cleveland Browns, Hunt watched as the Chiefs went three championship runs in 2019, 2022, and 2023.
In 2024, the Chiefs suffered a blow to their backfield when Isiah Pacheco fractured his leg early in the season.
Hunt, a free agent at the time, noticed his former team needed a running back. While he wasn’t sure about it at first, Hunt figured reaching out couldn’t hurt.
“I saw [Pacheco’s] injury but didn’t think anything of it,” said Hunt. “I was like, ‘Oh, it probably won’t happen.’ But the next morning, my agent’s like, ‘Man, I don’t know, do you want to shoot those guys a text or something? Just to let them know?’ I was like, ‘That ain’t a bad idea. I’ll text [Patrick Mahomes] and coach [Andy] Reid.’
To his surprise, Hunt got the answer he was looking for.
“I shot [Reid] a text, and I just was telling him, ‘I’ve been grinding, man. You know I’m hungry, and you know I want to come help y’all.” Hunt continued. “So, if y’all got a spot for me, I’ll put in the work.’ He said he’d get back to me and ended up getting back to me one hour later, two hours later, he told me to get ready for a flight.”
On September 16, Hunt flew to Kansas City for a visit and signed with the Chiefs’ practice squad the following day. A week later, the team activated Hunt to the active roster, and made his 2024 debut against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4.
Since his return to Kansas City, Hunt’s been a key contributor in the backfield, rushing for 728 yards and seven touchdowns on 200 carries. The veteran has also been stout, making 23 receptions for 176 yards. In the playoffs, Hunt carried the rock a career-high 25 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Now he’s getting set to play on football’s biggest stage in Super Bowl 59.
