Kareem Hunt’s first stint with the Chiefs did not end positively.
The running back appeared poised to become an NFL star in 2018. After a sensational rookie campaign in 2017, the third-round pick out of Kansas City was expected to once again lead the backfield in his sophomore campaign.
As he entered his second year with the Chiefs, he was no longer a member of the Kansas City Football Club in late November.
What did Hunt do? Here’s more on the 2018 hotel incident that led to his release from the Chiefs.
What did Kareem Hunt do?
In February 2018, a woman, Abigail Ottinger, told Cleveland police that Hunt “pushed and shoved” her during an argument in a hotel apartment.
She claimed she and a friend were kicked out of Hunt’s apartment because she “didn’t want” one of the other men in the apartment. Hunt’s friend claimed the woman called them and Hunt “niggers” before the attack, according to the police report.
A call to police said there were “two women with bruises and cuts everywhere.” Hotel security was called, as were police, but no charges were filed.
Kareem Hunt Investigation Timeline
— February 10, 2018: A woman, Abigail Ottinger, told police that Hunt “pushed and shoved” her during an argument at a Cleveland hotel apartment. Ottinger claims she and a friend were kicked out of Hunt’s apartment because she “didn’t want” another man. No charges were filed against her, although police and hotel security were both called during the argument.
— June 3, 2018: Hunt allegedly punched a man in the face after a verbal argument at an Ohio resort, according to TMZA resort official confirmed to TMZ that there was an incident involving Hunt and the alleged victim, however, the football player was not arrested.
— November 30, 2018: TMZ releases video of the February incident. The Chiefs quickly fired Hunt, and the NFL placed him on the commissioner’s exempt list.
— December 2, 2018: Hunt broke his silence after the video surfaced. In an exclusive interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters, he said 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.”
— December 3, 2018: The NFL announced its decision to investigate the June incident in which Hunt punched a man. That same day, Hunt was charged in a third incident with a man who claimed he was 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.
Why did the Chiefs release Kareem Hunt?
On November 30, 2018, the Chiefs dismissed Hunt from the team after video of the altercation surfaced. The video showed Hunt shoving and kicking the woman, corroborating his February claims.
At the time of his release, Kansas City said the running back “had not been honest” in previous conversations that were discussed when the incident was first reported and that “multiple members of our leadership team spoke to him directly.”
“Kareem was not truthful in these discussions,” the Chiefs said in a statement. “The video released today confirms that. We are releasing Kareem immediately.”
In an interview with ESPNHunt admitted lying to the Chiefs about the incident.
“The Chiefs are right, I didn’t tell them everything,” Hunt said. “I don’t blame them. It’s my actions that caused this. I know it’s going to be tough. I made a bad choice and I’m not going to let it get me down.”
How long was Kareem Hunt suspended?
Hunt was suspended for eight matches on March 15, 2019 following the incident involving Ottinger. He has not appealed the ban.
The running back had signed with Cleveland about a month earlier. The organization kept him despite the discipline, and he returned to football on November 10, 2019.
