What Happened to Kareem Hunt?
Kareem Hunt is an American professional football running back known for his explosive rookie season with the Kansas City Chiefs, followed by a controversial release due to an off-field incident. After stints with the Cleveland Browns, he returned to the Chiefs for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, and as of August 25, 2026, he is a free agent who recently visited with the Detroit Lions.
Quick Answer
Kareem Hunt, a prominent NFL running back, was initially drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017, leading the league in rushing yards as a rookie. His career faced a major setback in 2018 when he was released by the Chiefs following the emergence of a video depicting a physical altercation, leading to an eight-game NFL suspension. He later played for the Cleveland Browns from 2019 to 2023, before returning to the Chiefs for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. As of August 25, 2026, Hunt is a free agent and has recently visited with the Detroit Lions, exploring options for the upcoming season.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Born in Elyria, Ohio
Kareem A.J. Hunt was born in Elyria, Ohio.
Drafted by Kansas City Chiefs
Hunt was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round (86th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.
NFL Rushing Yards Leader and Pro Bowl Selection
As a rookie, Hunt led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,327 and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Released by Chiefs After Video Surfaces
The Chiefs released Hunt after a surveillance video from February 2018 surfaced, showing him pushing and kicking a woman.
Signed by Cleveland Browns
Hunt signed with the Cleveland Browns, providing him a chance to continue his NFL career.
NFL Announces 8-Game Suspension
The NFL suspended Hunt for the first eight games of the 2019 season for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Reinstated and Debuts for Browns
Hunt was reinstated from his suspension and made his debut for the Cleveland Browns in Week 10.
Signs 2-Year Extension with Browns
The Browns signed Hunt to a two-year, $13.25 million contract extension.
Re-signs with Browns for 2023 Season
Hunt signed a one-year, $4 million contract to return to the Browns after Nick Chubb's season-ending injury.
Returns to Kansas City Chiefs
Hunt was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad and later promoted to the active roster after an injury to Isiah Pacheco.
Productive Return to Chiefs
Hunt finished the 2024 season with 200 carries for 728 yards and seven touchdowns for the Chiefs.
Re-signs with Chiefs for 2025 Season
Hunt re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year, $1.5 million deal.
Continues Role with Chiefs
In the 2025 season, Hunt had 163 carries for 611 yards and nine total touchdowns in 17 games.
Visits Detroit Lions
As a free agent, Hunt visited with the Detroit Lions, exploring a potential signing for the 2026 season.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Kareem Hunt's NFL career began with a meteoric rise after being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a dominant force, leading the entire league in rushing yards during his rookie season with 1,327 yards, earning a Pro Bowl selection and First-Team All-Pro honors. His powerful running style and versatility made him a key component of the Chiefs' offense alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
However, Hunt's promising trajectory was abruptly halted in November 2018 when a surveillance video surfaced showing him shoving and kicking a woman during an altercation in a Cleveland hotel in February of that year. The Chiefs promptly released him, and the NFL placed him on the Commissioner's Exempt list. In March 2019, the NFL announced an eight-game suspension for Hunt due to violations of the league's personal conduct policy.
Following his release, Hunt was signed by the Cleveland Browns in February 2019, providing him a chance to restart his career closer to his Ohio hometown. He served his eight-game suspension and made his Browns debut in Week 10 of the 2019 season. With the Browns, Hunt often played a complementary role to Nick Chubb, showcasing his abilities as a dual-threat running back. He signed a two-year, $13.25 million contract extension with the Browns in September 2020. In August 2022, he requested a trade, which the team declined. He re-signed with the Browns on a one-year, $4 million contract in September 2023 after a season-ending injury to Chubb, finishing the 2023 season with 411 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games.
In a surprising turn, Hunt returned to the Kansas City Chiefs for a second stint in September 2024, initially joining their practice squad after an injury to Isiah Pacheco. He was quickly promoted to the active roster and had a productive 2024 season, rushing for 728 yards and seven touchdowns. He re-signed with the Chiefs on a one-year deal in March 2025. During the 2025 season, Hunt continued to be a steady force, accumulating 611 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns in 17 games.
As of August 25, 2026, Kareem Hunt is a free agent. He recently visited with the Detroit Lions, indicating potential interest from the team to add veteran depth to their backfield ahead of the 2026 NFL season. His visit comes as the Lions are reportedly looking to bolster their running back corps due to injuries.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Kareem Hunt made different choices?