The Kansas City Chiefs welcomed a familiar face at Arrowhead Stadium on Tuesday when veteran running back Kareem Hunt came to town for a free agent visit. Things apparently went well in his official return, because NFL reporter Jordan Schultz has word that he's signing with the team—bringing him back for the first time in six years.
Breaking: The #Chiefs are expected to sign free agent RB Kareem Hunt, per sources.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 17, 2024
Hunt returns to Kansas City, where he was a Pro Bowler in 2017. He will help fill the void left by injured RB Isiah Pacheco - who’s expected to miss 6-8 weeks. pic.twitter.com/ycPlP2sU10
Hunt is back in K.C. due to a serious need at the running back position. The Chiefs watched lead back Isiah Pacheco break his fibula late in the team's win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead in Week 2. He's expected to be out for several weeks.
Coming into the season, running back was already a need as the Chiefs placed former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the team's Non-Football Injury list, which automatically forced him to miss the first four games of the season.
As it stands, the Chiefs will still be thin at the position going into their primetime game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football. Hunt will need to work his way back into shape and learn the ropes in K.C. once again while Edwards-Helaire and Pacheco are out. That leaves rookie fullback Carson Steele and veteran Samaje Perine, who joined the team shortly before Week 1, as the two primary running backs on the roster.
Kareem Hunt was back in the building on Tuesday at Arrowhead for a closer look and a physical.
Hunt spent his first two seasons in the NFL with the Chiefs after being drafted by them in the third round in 2017—the famous draft class that also brought superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes to Kansas City. Hunt was an immediate sensation as a rookie whose debut earned him a Sports Illustrated cover. He would go on to lead the NFL in rushing that first season with 1,327 yards and 8 touchdowns on 272 carries.
In Hunt's second season, he was well on his way to putting up similar production through 11 games when a scandal broke involving Hunt's assault on a woman that was captured on video. From there, the Chiefs released Hunt outright. The NFL would suspend him for several games for the incident, but that didn't stop the Cleveland Browns from signing him.
Hunt has remained in Cleveland for the last five seasons in a part-time role next to Nick Chubb in the backfield.