Hunt to play for Chiefs 6 years after being cut

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Walking out of the team's practice facility for the last time as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, running back Kareem Hunt didn't dare dream that he would ever return.

So it was still with a sense of surprise, more than a week after he rejoined the Chiefs, that he was back.

"It's crazy how some things happened to work out,'' Hunt said. "It was a lot, honestly. It was a lot of emotions. I was very excited, a little nervous and stuff like that (but) these guys know me. I've just got to go and be myself.''

The Chiefs activated Hunt to the active roster after a week on the practice squad and coach Andy Reid said he would play in Sunday's game against the Chargers in Los Angeles.

Indeed, Hunt's return to the Chiefs is quite a twist. The team abruptly released him in the middle of the 2018 season as he was having another big year when a video surfaced showing Hunt kicking and shoving a woman outside his residence.

The Chiefs at the time said Hunt hadn't been truthful about the incident when they had asked him about it. He then signed with his hometown Cleveland Browns, for whom he played the last five seasons.

"I was very young at that time. 23, and had a lot of success going for me and felt like I guess I needed time to figure myself out and learn and I felt like it was good for me to do that,'' Hunt said. "I had an opportunity go to the Browns and stuff and that's my hometown, so I guess it worked out.

"I learned that everybody doesn't have their best interests for me, even family, friends and stuff like that. I just had to reflect on a lot of things and see 'How did I end up here?' ''

Hunt acknowledged the difficulty of watching the Chiefs win championships from afar. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 2019, the year after he was released, and again in 2022 and 2023.

"I had to just think about the good, positive things,'' Hunt said. "I was so excited for coach Reid to win multiple Super Bowls. I wanted to be the guy to help him do that, too. I've still got a lot of close friends on his team and I couldn't be more excited for them to see them achieve their goals.

"I was a part of it in the beginning and I was just so happy and thrilled for them. I wanted them to win all along and they deserve it. They've got great coaches, great players, and everybody comes and does their job.''

Hunt could be a part of a championship team if the Chiefs can win the Super Bowl again this season.

"That's been my goal,'' he said. "I feel like any player who steps on the football field wants to get a championship ring and it'll be a dream come true for me ever since I was a little kid and I couldn't be more excited to help these guys defend that title.''

Reid said he wasn't certain how much Hunt would play against the Chargers. The Chiefs used rookie Carson Steele and veteran Samaje Perine as their running backs in last week's win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Regardless of how much he plays, Hunt said he would be the same player he was for the Chiefs years ago. He led the NFL in rushing as a rookie in 2017 and was on pace for another 1,000-yard season in 2018 when he was released.

"I believe I'm very capable of that still and I'm excited to go help shock the world and show them I've still got it,'' Hunt said. "It is still hard to envision. I guess once that day comes, it's going to feel real because it has been a long time coming. I can't wait to put on the red again and go out there with these guys and put it all on the line for them. And I envision going out there and whatever I'm asked to do, just do it at the highest level and help find a way to keep this winning going on around here.''