Kareem Hunt’s Super Bowl appearance is the icing on the cake for his redemption story.
Hunt is on his second stint with the Chiefs, with his return in September. Kansas City first drafted him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but after a harrowing video in which he allegedly attacked a woman, he was released in November 2018 and spent five seasons as a backup with the Cleveland Browns.
Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid, who has rehabilitated players in the past, said Monday that Hunt wants to redeem himself to the community.
“So I had confidence that he could jump in and help us, and I knew he wanted to redeem himself amongst the community, and [I] kind of get that part that people can change. And ‘I’m changed’ is what he’s saying. So I think that’s been a positive.”
Hunt signed with the Chiefs in September after starting running back Isiah Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula. He started eight games in relief of Pacheco and appeared in 13 games, rushing 200 times for 728 yards and seven touchdowns.
Hunt was drafted by Kansas City with the 86th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He led the league in rushing yards as a rookie, carrying the ball 272 times for 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns. He played 11 games for the Chiefs in 2018, rushing 181 times for 824 yards and seven touchdowns.
In the video, Hunt is seen talking to a woman; a friend puts himself between Hunt and the woman, but Hunt pushes him away and shoves the woman, who slaps him back. Two more of his friends appear and restrain Hunt. One man tries to keep the woman away, but Hunt runs back into the frame, knocking the friend into the woman, and both fall to the floor.
Hunt continues to struggle against his friends’ hold on him and argue with the women. They eventually carry him away but he charges into his friend again, knocking him and the woman to the floor; the woman apparently hits her head. Hunt kicks the woman before being taken away.
The woman refused to cooperate with police and Hunt was not charged—but he was cut by the team.
He spent 5 years in a reserve role with the Cleveland Browns, starting several games in relief of Nick Chubb when he missed games on several occasions due to injury. His best year was 2021 when he rushed 198 times for 841 yards and six touchdowns. He rushed for a career-high nine touchdowns in 2023.
Hunt is not the first player Reid has successfully rehabilitated. During his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Reid brought quarterback Michael Vick back into the league after he was arrested and imprisoned on dogfighting charges. Vick had career seasons as a passer and a runner under Reid from 2009 until Reid left the team in 2012.
“He did a nice job in Cleveland, and we talked to the people there, and there were no issues there, so we felt OK by bringing him back ... It looks like he’s grown up.
“I think people deserve a second chance if they’ve done something to work on the first part of it.”
“I thought that ship sank a long time ago,” he said. “I know I’ve got the opportunity to [win a Super Bowl] now, and I’ve got to take advantage of it. So that’s what I think about every day.”
