The Kansas City Chiefs had a huge, glaring weakness on offense last season: the run game. Given how lifeless the Chiefs looked rushing the ball, it’s hard to advocate for the team to bring back any of their running backs for next season, but that is exactly what Kansas City should do with Kareem Hunt.
What the 30-year-old lacked in explosiveness, he made up for with effectiveness. Hunt averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, but he was Kansas City’s leading rusher, a title the Chiefs would probably prefer he hadn’t earned, given what that says about how their other running backs performed, and a first-down machine.
Hunt’s first-down conversion rate and rushing success rate were among the highest in the NFL, and while his return isn’t going to magically fix Kansas City’s run game, he would play a key role if the Chiefs can bring him back.
Looking back at Kareem Hunt’s contract year
Hunt, surprisingly, led Kansas City in both rushing yards and total touchdowns last season. He had 611 yards on 163 attempts, 149 yards more than Isiah Pacheco (462) and 611 more than Elijah Mitchell (lol). He also led the team with nine total touchdowns.
But where Hunt really excelled was in short-yardage situations. He was practically unstoppable.
On third and fourth down with two or fewer yards to go, Hunt converted – either gained a first down or scored a touchdown – on 34 out of 40 attempts (85 percent). On three of the six plays Hunt was stopped, he was able to pick up a first down or score on the very next play anyway.
Astonishingly, more than a third of Hunt’s carries—34 percent—went for a first down. He had a 57.1 rushing success rate according to Pro Football Reference, the seventh-best rate among NFL backs.
Hunt’s numbers in other areas were less glamorous. His 611 yards were the fourth-lowest total to lead a team (only the team-leading rushers for the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New Orleans Saints had fewer yards than Hunt), and his 3.7 yards per attempt ranked 46th among league running backs.
Kareem Hunt’s market outlook
Hunt is a specific type of running back. He is not going to break off a huge run—he only had 2 carries of 15 yards or more all of last season—but he will get 4 yards per carry consistently and crash through the line of scrimmage to get there.
That has its value, but nowhere near the same kind associated with “home run”-hitting backs. Hunt was ranked by The Athletic as the 11th available running back on the market and the 145th top free agent overall.
After five years with the Cleveland Browns, Hunt became a free agent in 2024. Since then, he’s signed consecutive one-year deals with Kansas City. He made $1,500,000 last year, the most he’s earned since 2022.
Will Kareem Hunt return to the Chiefs in 2026?
I think he will. Hunt is more valuable to the Chiefs than he would be to any other team, and bringing him back to Kansas City should be the goal for the front office.
Hunt has his limitations, but he also has strengths. Kansas City’s coaching staff know both well and know how to fully utilize those advantages in their offense.
Hunt’s short-yardage success was huge for a Chiefs team that has historically struggled on third or fourth down with short yardage to go. Handing the ball to Kareem Hunt was a lot easier and a lot more effective than running Blake Bell tight end sneaks or other trick plays in crucial situations.
I also think Hunt wants to play for the Chiefs. His first stint in Kansas City, of course, ended disastrously, and he missed out on three Super Bowl rings as a result. There was that infamous video of Hunt speaking to a police officer, saying how much it hurt him not to be part of the team.
Of course, the situation could change if another team, maybe the Houston Texans or the Denver Broncos, is willing to offer Hunt significantly more for his services. But in my view, both Hunt and the Chiefs would likely want a reunion in Kansas City.
Final prediction for Kareem Hunt
Hunt will return to Kansas City with a little more security and a slight pay rise. He’ll sign a two-year, $4 million contract just before training camp.