Kareem Hunt's return draws cheers from Tyreek Hill, jeers from other Chiefs fans

After a five-year hiatus, running back Kareem Hunt is once again a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Most fans likely never thought the day would come when the former third-round pick would be seen playing for the home team in Arrowhead Stadium once again, but a half-decade has passed and circumstances have changed.

For the Chiefs, clearly the right things have been said or enough distance has been allowed between the inciting moments (assault charges filed against Kareem Hunt, the release of a video of that assault, and lies told to cover up his involvement).

The Chiefs cited a lack of trust as a primary reason for his release back in 2018, so it feels safe to imagine that honest conversations have been had between both parties. It also seems reasonable that any offended persons from 2018 have likely gotten over their grievances in the ensuing six seasons.

The response to the Chiefs' decision to sign Kareem Hunt was met with mostly positive reactions on the whole.

As for Hunt, he's been vocal in the past about the devastation of having been cut from a team with so much promise, and his lack of Super Bowl rings speaks for itself. He could have been a core member of a dynasty and he knows it.

In that way, the story of Hunt returning is a notable one and the majority of responses to Hunt's re-signing have been positive with references toward that reunion as a meaningful narrative. Most fans love the redemptive angle and hope for good things for both the Chiefs and Hunt going forward.

For others, however, five years isn't enough for Hunt to be away from the Chiefs. For some, it seems once you're out, you're out, and there's a fair argument to be made there. Yet even others are stuck in the middle, seeing both sides and wondering what exactly is the right thing.

Let's survey some of the responses on social media to see what fans were saying,

The most notable online reaction came from a former teammate of Hunt's from that time who would know very well what it was like for the franchise and the player to come back together from those days. And Tyreek Hill approves of the transaction.

Some fans were elated to see Kareem Hunt back with the team even after five seasons away.

Other members of Chiefs Kingdom were staunchly against the idea of bringing Hunt back at all after his legal concerns and the lies told to try to cover it up and hidd it from the team.

One fan just wants more Carson Steele,... (which, to be fair, who doesn't?)

Our own Braden Holocek has concerns as well, but here they are focused on the product on the field.

Some fans were able to live in the tension. There are points to be made on all sides, and instead of calling one side "right" and the other side "wrong", some responses on social media were able to settle into that tension and appreciate the perspectives from each corner.

That same tension led some fans to a bit of internal confusion about what they should think.

No matter what anyone thinks, the Chiefs have spoken and they've built a bridge back to Hunt. Now they're hoping he can take the field and make up for lost time in the absence of Isiah Pacheco and others.