Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt had a bounce-back season in 2024 as he took over from the injured Isiah Pacheco to become the lead back.
Totaling 782 yards (most since 2020) and seven touchdowns, Hunt was productive for Andy Reid's offense to the point where when Pacheco did return, Kareem was still the featured back.
He was a free agent but then re-signed for 2025 after the Chiefs got so close to a third successive Super Bowl, and for Hunt, that is a driving force in his decision to return to Kansas City.
“It put a lot of fire under me, you never want to go to the Super Bowl and lose,” Hunt said. “But I'm just grateful I got to experience that. You definitely want to get back there and see how it is on the other side.”
So, the brutal curb-stomping by the Philadelphia Eagles was a factor in Travis Kelce's return and now Hunt's as the roster looks to bounce back in 2025.
With Elijah Mitchell coming in as a free agent to give the running back room some much-needed speed, Reid's use of Pacheco, Hunt, and Mitchell will be fascinating to watch.
Of course, that is predicated on all three making the final roster, but Hunt has shown he can be the leading guy when needed. While the Chiefs had the 26th-ranked rush attack for yards per game in 2024, Mitchell will ideally help with that, and so will Hunt, who will get a full offseason of work.
But as for Hunt, after coming in off the couch last offseason to help the Chiefs get to the Super Bowl, now he gets a full offseason to get down to business, with the loss to the Eagles helping light his fire for 2025.
