Kareem Hunt returns to the Chiefs.
The defending champions desperately needed depth at running back after Isiah Pacheco fractured his fibula in Kansas City’s Week 2 win over the Bengals. Pacheco was placed on injured reserve Monday, leaving the door open for touches in the Chiefs’ backfield.
Kansas City brought Hunt in for a workout Tuesday and signed the veteran to its practice squad shortly after. The 29-year-old will eventually compete with rookie fullback Carson Steele and veteran RB Samaje Perine for carries, looking to bolster the Chiefs’ running game with Pacheco out for the foreseeable future.
Hunt is a familiar face in Kansas City, having spent the first two seasons of his career with the Chiefs after they selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
His first term ended in controversy, leading to his release. Find out below why Kansas City cut ties with Hunt in 2018.
Kareem Hunt’s Chiefs timeline
2017 Rookie Season
The third-round pick from Toledo made a splash by winning the NFL’s leading rusher title with 1,327 yards. He had eight rushing touchdowns and also added 53 receptions and 455 receiving yards to his total.
All-Pro running backs Todd Gurley (2,093) and Le’Veon Bell (1,946) were the only players to rush for more yards than Hunt (1,782) during his rookie season.
Hunt played just 11 games in the 2018 season before being let go by the Chiefs.
He had 181 carries for 824 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, while adding 26 receptions for 378 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Recording his second season with 1,000 rushing yards, the future seemed bright for the 23-year-old running back until controversy ensued.
2018 controversy leads to Chiefs release
In February 2018, a woman, Abigail Ottinger, told Cleveland police that Hunt had “pushed and shoved” her during an argument in a hotel apartment. She claimed that she and a friend were kicked out of Hunt’s apartment because she “didn’t want” one of the other men in the apartment. Hotel security was called and police were called, but no charges were filed.
In June 2018, another case arose regarding Hunt. He allegedly punched a man in the face after a verbal argument in Ohio, but he was not arrested.
In November 2018, Hunt was fired by the Chiefs after video of his altercation with Ottinger from February surfaced. The video showed that Hunt had actually pushed and kicked the woman, and he was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list while the investigation was ongoing.
On December 2, 2018, Hunt broke his silence after the video surfaced. In an exclusive interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters, he stated that he was “definitely not that type of person” and that he knew right from wrong after being raised by his mother. He said he was “extremely embarrassed by this video.”
On December 3, 2018, the NFL began investigating the incident in June where Hunt punched a man. That same day, Hunt was charged in a third incident with a man claiming to have been attacked by Hunt and other members of the Chiefs at a Kansas City nightclub. Later that day, Hunt went unclaimed on waivers, making him an NFL free agent.
He began alcohol and anger management therapy on Dec. 10, 2018, and all three investigations took place through 2019 free agency.
The Browns signed Hunt on February 11, 2019, and he was suspended for eight games on March 15, 2019.
Hunt did not appeal the suspension and returned to football with Cleveland on November 10, 2019. He spent the next five years of his career with the Browns before signing with the Chiefs’ practice squad on September 17, 2024.
Kareem Hunt Video
Below you can find the video of Hunt’s abuse. Watch it at your leisure.
How old is Kareem Hunt?
Hunt recently turned 29. This will be the eighth season of his NFL career.
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Kareem Hunt Career Statistics
Hunt had three seasons with over 1,000 scrimmage yards and scored at least five touchdowns in five of his seven seasons.
He was a Pro Bowler as a rookie in 2017 but finished second to Alvin Kamara for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, although he led the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards.
You can find Hunt’s career statistics below.
| Year | Team | General practitioner | Rush Att. | Yds of racing | Quick TDs | Rec | Yds of recovery | TD Rec |
| 2017 | KC | 16 | 272 | 1,327 | 8 | 53 | 455 | 3 |
| 2018 | KC | 11 | 181 | 824 | 7 | 26 | 378 | 7 |
| 2019 | Key | 8 | 43 | 179 | 2 | 37 | 285 | 1 |
| 2020 | Key | 16 | 198 | 841 | 6 | 38 | 304 | 5 |
| 2021 | Key | 8 | 78 | 386 | 5 | 22 | 174 | 0 |
| 2022 | Key | 17 | 123 | 468 | 3 | 35 | 210 | 1 |
| 2023 | Key | 15 | 135 | 411 | 9 | 15 | 84 | 0 |
| Career | 1,030 | 4,436 | 40 | 226 | 1,890 | 17 |
