Kareem Hunt started his NFL career by leading the Kansas City Chiefs (and the rest of the entire National Football League) in his rookie season of 2017. He did the same last season as a veteran short-yardage back. Perhaps the story isn't over yet for Hunt, who is earning his first official free-agent looks before 2026 with a visit to the Detroit Lions.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Hunt spent Tuesday in Detroit visiting with Dan Campbell and company. If the Lions extend a contract to him, it will reunite him with his primary running mate in each of the last two seasons in K.C.: Isiah Pacheco.
Hunt first came to the Chiefs as a third-round pick in the same draft class that netted quarterback Patrick Mahomes at No. 10 overall in the first round. Together, they completely shifted the way defenses were constructed as they steamrolled over most opponents with the Legion of Boom—with the help of wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce, of course.
While Hunt remained just as dominant in 2018, his run with the Chiefs would find its abrupt end when his involvement in an assault and altercation was caught on video and he subsequently lied to the team about it. The Chiefs released Hunt and the Cleveland Browns gave him a place to land near his hometown of Willoughby, Ohio.
The Browns would serve as his home base for the next half-decade, as Hunt would play second fiddle to Nick Chubb and others for a moribund franchise while he watched his former teammates turn into the league's next dynasty.
In 2024, however, fate would present Hunt with a chance for redemption. The Chiefs needed help after Isiah Pacheco suffered a fibula injury, and they called Hunt to see if he could help. Hunt would go on to be the team's leading rusher with 200 carries for 728 yards and 8 touchdowns. He followed that up with another strong year in '25 with 163 carries for 611 yard and 7 scores.
While Hunt is not the dynamic threat he was nearly a decade ago, he's become a battering ram for the Chiefs in his latter years. Behind a strong interior offensive front that consists of Pro Bowlers like center Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith, as well as Kingsley Suamataia at left guard, the Chiefs proved they can move the chains when close with such an impressive short-yardage specialist.
Now, Hunt is hoping that there's at least one more chapter in his NFL career, and perhaps it will come alongside Pacheco in a backfield centered on star back Jahmyr Gibbs. Hunt's metamorphosis into a short-yardage maven might be what Campbell's offense could use to give them an added dimension for the '26 season.
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