If the Kansas City Chiefs decided to already tie a bow on the backfield after an offseason of renovation, no one would blame them. They've turned the page completely on a troubling depth chart, top to bottom, so a conversation about any further tinkering might not be in Brett Veach's interest. But even after seismic changes at running back, there's still room to question whether Kareem Hunt should sit by the phone.
As of press time, Hunt remains a free agent running back, available to sign with any team. It's possible that he's aged out of the league after nine NFL seasons, that teams view him as an undesirable option with little tread left on the tires who should give way to younger options. While he might not be the spry, dynamic young back who was second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2017, he still holds value for a team like the Chiefs.
Last year, Hunt led the Chiefs in rushing with 611 yards and 8 touchdowns. He has 15 rushing scores over the last two seasons, since returning to Kansas City for the first time in five years following a five-year stint with the Cleveland Browns. He's pushed through goal-line stands and frustrated stacked defensive lines over and over during his homecoming as a short-yardage specialist with an 85 percent conversion rate on third or fourth down attempts—best in the NFL.
That sort of player is exactly the missing piece for the Chiefs backfield. That's not to say it should be Hunt, or even that the Chiefs want to use a roster spot on such a player. But Hunt has something the Chiefs do not have at a position that's going to be more emphasized than ever before.
Remember, the Chiefs went all-in on Kenneth Walker III in free agency and made it clear that the ground game was going to be a greater focus on offense overall. Emari Demercado was also signed away from the Arizona Cardinals, and then the Chiefs spent a fifth-round draft choice on Emmett Johnson of Nebraska. Suddenly the backfield had an elite ceiling, solid depth, and long-term security—three elements that have eluded the Chiefs for years.
But the name of the game in the backfield is dynamism right now, and for good reason. Walker is one of the single most dangerous backs with the football in his hands in the entire sport. Demercado brings an explosive ability that the Chiefs were missing in 2025 (and 2024 and...), while Johnson is a well-rounded back who was uber-productive a year ago and gives K.C. a nice tandem partner for Walker. But do they have a battering ram? No, the Chiefs do not.
The Chiefs used to keep a fullback around when the rushing attack was more prevalent, so it makes sense why K.C. might view Hunt the same way, as a situational weapon who has proven to execute at an astounding rate in those specific scenarios. Gone are the days of leaning on Hunt as a multi-down threat or a tandem to Isiah Pacheco to serve as the primary back on full offensive series. But keeping four running backs on the active roster makes sense if K.C. wants to keep their short-yardage worries to a minimum.
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