Revisiting Kareem Hunt’s Chiefs timeline, from rookie breakout season to 2018 release

Kareem Hunt is returning to the Chiefs.

The defending champions were in desperate need of running back depth after Isiah Pacheco suffered a fractured 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' run game with Pacheco out for the foreseeable future.

Ahead of the team's Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City added Hunt to the active roster. 

The Chiefs have signed RB Kareem Hunt to their 53-man roster and waived RB Keontay Ingraham.

So, Hunt now figures into the RB rotation alongside Carson Steele and Samaje Perine.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 24, 2024

Hunt is a familiar face in Kansas City, spending 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 tenure ended with controversy, leading to his release. Learn more about why Kansas City cut ties with Hunt back in 2018 below.

Kareem Hunt Chiefs timeline

2017 breakout rookie season

The third-round pick out of Toledo burst onto the scene in a huge way, winning the NFL rushing title with 1,327 yards. He punched in eight rushing touchdowns and also added 53 receptions and 455 receiving yards to his totals.

All-Pro running backs Todd Gurley (2,093) and Le'Veon Bell (1,946) were the only players with more yards from scrimmage than Hunt (1,782) during his rookie season.

Hunt only played 11 games in the 2018 season before he was cut 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. Logging his second season with 1,000 yards from scrimmage, the future looked bright for the 23-year-old running back until controversy ensued.

2018 controversy leads to Chiefs release

In Feb. 2018, a woman, Abigail Ottinger, told Cleveland police that Hunt "pushed and shoved" her during a dispute 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 unit. Hotel security was summoned and the police were called but no charges were filed.

In June 2018, a separate issue popped up with Hunt. He allegedly punched a man in the face after a verbal dispute in Ohio, but he was not arrested.

In Nov. 2018, Hunt was cut by the Chiefs after video footage was released from his altercation with Ottinger from back in February. The video showed that Hunt did shove and kick the woman, and he was placed on the Commissioner's exempt list during the ongoing investigation.

On Dec. 2, 2018, Hunt broke his silence after the video's release. In an exclusive interview with ESPN's Lisa Salters, he stated he's "definitely not that type of person" and that he knows "right from wrong" after being raised by his mother. He calls himself "extremely embarrassed because of that video."

On Dec. 3, 2018, the NFL began to investigate Hunt's June incident when he punched a man. On the same day, Hunt was accused of a third incident with a man claiming 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.

He entered counseling for alcohol and anger management on Dec. 10, 2018, and all three investigations trickled into 2019 free agency.

The Browns signed Hunt on Feb. 11, 2019, and he was issued an eight-game suspension on March 15, 2019.

Hunt did not appeal the suspension, returning to football with Cleveland on Nov. 10, 2019. He spent the next five years of his career with the Browns before signing with the Chiefs practice squad on Sept. 17, 2024.

How old is Kareem Hunt?

Hunt recently turned 29. This will be the eighth season of his NFL career.

Kareem Hunt career stats

Hunt has had three seasons with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and has 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 despite leading the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards.

You can find Hunt's career stats below.