In a stunning twist of fate, the Kansas City Chiefs have welcomed back running back Kareem Hunt to their practice squad, marking the end of a tumultuous journey that began when the team abruptly released him in 2018 due to off-field issues.
The Chiefs cut ties with Hunt in 2018 after he was involved in an altercation and then lied about the incident. However, Hunt has now returned to the organization, eager to prove himself once again. Head coach Andy Reid expressed his eagerness to work with Hunt, especially after starting running back Isiah Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula, creating an urgent need for a replacement.
“We’ll get him in here and get some work, kind of get him back in the swing of playing, and then we’ll just see,” Reid said. “As the game gets closer, we’ll see how things go there and so on. But [we’ll] try to get him in a position where he’s ready to play either this week, next week or the following week. We’ll just see how long it takes.”
The severity of the situation has seemingly softened any past reservations about reuniting with Hunt, who was released in 2018 for misleading Chiefs personnel about his involvement in the altercation. Nonetheless, Hunt now has a second chance with the team, eager to make the most of this opportunity.
Upon his release in 2018, Reid had encouraged Hunt to take time away from the game and seek help to start fresh elsewhere. Hunt eventually found a new beginning with the Cleveland Browns, where he spent five seasons before becoming a free agent once again. Despite their time apart, Hunt maintained a close friendship with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who spoke highly of his former teammate.
“He came to my wedding,” Mahomes said. “He went to Cleveland, had a good career there, has learned and become a better person, and I’m glad to have him back now. Let’s get him accustomed to the offense and see how fast we can get him out there.”
The reunion between Hunt and the Chiefs represents a chance for redemption and a fresh start for the talented running back. As he prepares to hit the field once again, all eyes will be on Hunt to see how he seizes this second chance with his former team.
