Kareem Hunt's incredible first-half heroics fuel Chiefs offense vs. 49ers

It still feels a bit funny to type out the phrase "Kareem Hunt has Chiefs Kingdom excited" in 2024, but that's what makes the return of the veteran running back to the Kansas City Chiefs this season such a compelling story. After five seasons away with the Cleveland Browns, the former Chiefs draft pick is back with his first franchise and providing similar results to the player he was back in 2017-18.

On Sunday, the Chiefs visited with the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium for a highly-anticipated clash between last year's conference champions. Early on, the Chiefs have the advantage after watching Hunt score the game's first two touchdowns.

Kareem Hunt's instincts on back-to-back plays put the Chiefs in the end zone for the second time.

Hunt's heroics for the Chiefs are not only exciting on ther own but they are also perfectly timed. Beyond being a great story of a former released player who was waiting for any team to employ him coming into the season, Hunt has come up big right when the Chiefs have needed him most.

The Chiefs signed Hunt when they found themselves without lead back Isiah Pacheco, who was placed on injured reserve after a fractured leg in Week 2. The Chiefs also started the season without Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who was on the team's non-football injury list to start the year, which cost him the first four games at least.

From there, the Chiefs have suffered further injuries to their two most dynamic pass catchers at the wide receiver position: Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice. Without those targets, the Chiefs turned to veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster to absorb the most targets, but on Sunday, even he was taken out of the game due to a hamstring injury.

With the receiving ranks so thin, the Chiefs have turned to Kareem Hunt in the red zone and he's come up huge. So far he has two touchdowns including this one to put the Chiefs on the board and give them an early 7-3 lead.

The real heroics started to come into play on the team's next drive, as Hunt took over in the red zone and put the offense on his back.

The valiant second and third efforts play right into what the Chiefs' interior line does so well, which is helping Hunt get every last yard that he can.

Of course, Chiefs fans are ecstatic to not only have Hunt back in the fold but to see such productive results even at the age of 29.

The fact that Hunt was available for the taking has some people confused as well.

From every angle, the whole thing is such an amazing (and unlikely) story.