A call that changed the season: How Kareem Hunt made his way back to the Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - One of the Chiefs’ top contributors wasn’t on the team when the season began.

Running back Kareem Hunt was working out at his high school, trying to stay in football shape, when Chiefs’ running back Isiah Pacheco broke his leg in Week 2. Hunt didn’t think much of the injury, but then his agent said Hunt should reach out to the Chiefs.

“My agent was like, “Man, I don’t know. Do you want to shoot those guys a text or something? Just let them know,’” said Hunt. “I was like, ‘That ain’t a bad idea. I’ll text Pat and Coach Reid.’”

That’s the story of Hunt’s return to the Chiefs. It started with a few messages and then a phone call to the boss.

“He called me,” said Andy Reid. “He just said he wanted to be there. I knew he had changed. I spent some time with him at Pat’s wedding.”

READ MORE: Bills coach Sean McDermott says he told team ‘you’re not going to get calls’ prior to AFC Champ loss

In 2018, video surfaced of Hunt assaulting a woman. Hunt – who was never arrested or charged – was released by the Chiefs after the organization said he wasn’t truthful about what happened. Hunt then served an 8-game suspension and played five seasons for his hometown Cleveland Browns.

“With Kareem, obviously he made his mistakes, but I knew the person before and I knew the person after,” said Patrick Mahomes. “I knew that he had a good heart. He had to learn from his mistakes and become a better person because of it. He did that. He dealt with the consequences.”

Hunt was named a team captain two times this season (Week 8 & Week 15) and scored playoff touchdowns against the Bills and Texans. He was Kansas City’s leading rusher for the season as well with 200 carries for 728 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Now, he will play in the Super Bowl for the very first time.

“Getting him back now, you can tell he appreciates the moment,” Mahomes said. “He appreciates being out there on the practice field and being in the building.”

“I knew he wanted to redeem himself amongst the community and kind of get that part – that people can change. ‘I’m changed,’ is what he’s saying,” Reid said. “I think that’s been a positive.”

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.