Kansas City Chiefs bringing back free agent RB Kareem Hunt on one-year deal | Report
The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing back their top rusher from 2024.
Free agent running back Kareem Hunt will be rejoining the team on a one-year deal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Hunt’s contract, via Rapoport, will be for $1.5 million with incentives.
The 29-year-old Hunt — he turns 30 in August — was a redemption story for KC this past season. The Chiefs signed Hunt in September following an injury to Isiah Pacheco, and the veteran back was a steady contributor after that, leading KC with 724 rushing yards in the regular season.
It was a chance for Hunt to rewrite his narrative with the Chiefs. KC drafted Hunt in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he started every game over two productive seasons before video surfaced of an off-field incident where he shoved and kicked a woman.
Hunt later admitted that he was not honest with the Chiefs when they spoke to him about the incident. The Chiefs released him in late November 2018, and Hunt signed with the Cleveland Browns in February 2019 before playing there for five seasons.
That was before 2024, when the Chiefs signed Hunt as a free agent in September before starting him shortly after. With KC, Hunt advanced to his first Super Bowl appearance this past season as the Chiefs played the Philadelphia Eagles.
Signing this deal will also give Hunt a benefit he didn’t have the past two seasons: training camp. Hunt failed to secure a training camp invite in both 2023 and 2024, so he trained at that time with a former coach at his high school in Ohio.
The Chiefs suddenly have a crowded depth chart at tailback. KC agreed to terms with free agent speedster Elijah Mitchell on Monday and also has Pacheco and rookie fullback Carson Steele under contract. The NFL Draft is deep at running back as well, meaning the Chiefs have options in April if they’d like to add another young back to the roster.
