Kareem Hunt

NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Kelly, Pack

March 20th, 2025 at 10:50am CST by Sam Robinson

Prior to the Bears agreeing to re-sign Travis Homer, they considered a veteran with ties to Ryan Poles and new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy. Chicago considered Kareem Hunt in free agency, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. Poles and Bieniemy were with the Chiefs when they drafted Hunt in the 2017 third round, with the current Bears GM serving as Kansas City’s college scouting director at that point. Hunt won a rushing title as a rookie and was off to a better start in 2018, when a video of him kicking a woman led to his initial Kansas City ouster. The Chiefs circled back to Hunt six years later, after an Isiah Pacheco injury, and have since re-signed him. The Bears still have Homer and Roschon Johnson behind starter D’Andre Swift, who joins Jonah Jackson in reuniting with Ben Johnson.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

On the subject of Jackson, he is set to play right guard next season, per the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs. Jackson started four seasons at left guard in Detroit, but he will end up deferring to Joe Thuney, who landed as the All-Pro first team’s left guard in back-to-back seasons. The older of the Bears’ two guard trade pickups is in a contract year, Thuney gave no clues about a potential extension (via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin). Keeping with the reunion theme, Thuney signed with the Chiefs when Poles was still on Brett Veach‘s staff.
Losing durable veteran Kevin Zeitler to the Titans, the Lions appear in need at guard. Graham Glasgow remains, but the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett expects the team to add another starter-level option at the position. This could come in free agency or the draft. A few free agency options are available. Brandon Scherff, Dalton Risner, Cody Whitehair, Will Hernandez and Andrus Peat are among the top veteran options. Teven Jenkins is the leader in this clubhouse right now, and it will be interesting to see where the three-year Bears starter lands. Early in free agency, Jenkins had set a high price. Christian Mahogany, a 2024 sixth-round pick, looks to be in position to still compete for the job Zeitler held last season, Birkett adds.
The Vikings paid a high price for Will Fries but landed ex-Colts center Ryan Kelly on a mid-market deal. Kelly agreed to a two-year, $18MM contract that comes with $9.15MM guaranteed. No part of Kelly’s $7.89MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes, giving Minnesota some flexibility on the soon-to-be 32-year-old center. The Vikings would carry no dead money if they cut Kelly next year. Elsewhere on Minnesota’s cap sheet, DB Tavierre Thomas‘ deal comes in at one year and $2MM, Wilson adds. The former Browns, Texans and Buccaneers defender commanded a $1MM guarantee.
Marcus Davenport‘s second shot at becoming a regular Lions contributor will include a pay cut. Reported as signing a deal worth up to $4.75MM, Davenport will be tied to $2.5MM in base value, via OverTheCap. Of that total, $1.65MM is guaranteed. The Lions are guaranteeing Davenport’s $1.35MM base salary, per Wilson, which would leave them with a near-$2MM dead money hit if they moved on. Davenport has missed 28 games over the past two seasons. Roy Lopez‘s “up to” report checked in at $4.75MM; the actual value of the Lions DT’s contract (via Wilson): $3.5MM.
The Lions also brought in former Bills tight end Quintin Morris on a free agency visit this week, FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes. Buffalo did not tender Morris as an RFA, passing on a $3.26MM price to retain its primary blocking tight end. The Lions matched a 49ers RFA offer sheet for Brock Wright last year; two years remain on Wright’s deal. Morris, 26, played 214 offensive snaps for the Bills last season.
Isaiah McDuffie‘s two-year, $8MM Packers pact does not bring any 2026 guarantees, though ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky indicates it carries a $750K roster bonus next year. Guaranteeing the 2024 linebacker starter $2.25MM, the Packers can move on for barely $1MM in dead money after the 2025 season.

Chiefs To Re-Sign Kareem Hunt

March 14th, 2025 at 12:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kareem Hunt returned to the Chiefs last season, and his second Kansas City run will continue into 2025. The former rushing champion is re-signing on a one-year deal, as first reported by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

This pact has a base value of $1.5MM, Schultz adds. Incentives can add another $1MM to Hunt’s earnings. After a five-year run with the Browns, the 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year came back to Kansas City and handled a notable offensive workload. He will remain part of the team’s backfield plans for at least one more campaign.

Isiah Pacheco was expected to handle a heavy workload in 2024, but he was limited to seven games due to a broken fibula. His absence helped open the door for Hunt signing and then receiving 200 carries on the year; he turned that opportunity into 728 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. The 29-year-old added 176 yards in the passing game, then scored a pair of touchdowns in the playoffs.

Before the start of free agency, it became clear the Chiefs would be interested in adding a veteran running back this spring. That plan resulted in a one-year agreement with Elijah Mitchell, who missed all of last season. The former 49er nevertheless figures to have a role of some kind with Kansas City. Pacheco, meanwhile, is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

The Chiefs could also look to the draft to add a long-term option at the position, something which would make sense since all three of their current top backs are pending 2026 free agents. Hunt – who saw his yards per carry average rebound slightly to 3.6 after it dropped at the end of his Browns tenure – will nevertheless compete for playing time in 2025. Regardless of how Kansas City’s backfield shakes out, the Toledo product figures to have a notable role based on the trust he has received from the organization.

Hunt made a mid-season return to the Browns in 2023 after Nick Chubb‘s season-ending knee injury. The latter is a free agent, and his departure (which would not come as a surprise at this point) would leave Cleveland in need of at least one notable addition. Today’s news confirms another new Hunt agreement will not be possible, though.

Chiefs Promote Kareem Hunt To Active Roster, Waive RB Keaontay Ingram

September 24th, 2024 at 4:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kareem Hunt‘s time on the Chiefs’ practice squad has not lasted long. The veteran running back has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, as noted by ESPN’s Field Yates.

Hunt worked out with Kansas City last week in the wake of Isiah Pacheco‘s fractured fibula. The latter is on injured reserve and facing a lengthy recovery period as a result. A practice squad deal was quickly worked out with Hunt, though, and he is now in position to handle a role in the team’s backfield.

The 29-year-old spent the past five seasons in Cleveland, including a 2023 campaign which saw him on the free agent market at the beginning of the season. Once Nick Chubb went down, Hunt returned to Cleveland and remained with the team to close out the campaign. He only logged a 31% snap share last year, however, and his 3.0 yards per carry average was the lowest of his career. That helped explain his lengthy stay on the open market this year.

Hunt began his career in Kansas City, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 after leading the league in rushing. He was released midway through the following campaign after video of an incident in which he pushed and kicked a woman became public. When reflecting on the recent reunion between team and player, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the organization was satisfied Hunt had earned a second chance with the organization after his time in Cleveland did not include any off-field incidents.

Kansas City is without Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the time being after began the campaign on the reserve/NFI list. His absence, coupled with that of Pacheco, led to a reliance on undrafted rookie Carson Steele and pass-catching veteran Samaje Perine during the Chiefs’ Week 3 win. Hunt will look to carve out a role alongside that pair.

In a corresponding move, Keaontay Ingram has been waived. The former sixth-rounder was promoted from the practice squad following Pacheco’s injury, and he made his season debut on Sunday. Ingram did not see any touches, though, and he logged only five special teams snaps. He is unlikely to be claimed off waivers, and presuming he goes through unclaimed he will be a prime candidate to return to Kansas City’s taxi squad.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid Addresses Kareem Hunt Reunion

September 22nd, 2024 at 3:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of Isiah Pacheco‘s broken fibula, the Chiefs turned to a familiar face in the backfield. Kareem Hunt signed with Kansas City shortly after a workout.

Hunt joined the team’s practice squad, a move which has become increasingly popular in recent years amongst veterans who land in-season deals. The 29-year-old was not called up to the active roster as a gameday elevation, meaning he will not suit up tonight. Still, he figures to have a role in short order on his former team, one which released him in 2018 following the emergence of a video detailing a domestic violence incident.

Hunt quickly landed a new opportunity the following season when he signed with his hometown Browns. The former third-rounder spent five seasons in Cleveland, similarly inking a deal ahead of Week 3 last season once Nick Chubb was lost due to injury. He rushed for nine touchdowns in 2023 but logged the lowest snap share (31%) of his career, making it little surprise the team moved on. With his off-field issues in the past, the Chiefs authorized a comeback while eyeing backfield depth.

“We just thought he needed a change of scenery and get some help and take care of business there and we felt like he did that,” head coach Andy Reid said when addressing the Hunt deal (via ESPN’s Adam Teicher). “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.”

Pacheco is on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least four games. It would come as no surprise if he were to miss more time than that, however, so a committee approach could be in order for the foreseeable future. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is on the on the reserve/non-football illness list and cannot be activated until at least Week 5. Kansas City will therefore rely heavily on undrafted rookie Carson Steele and veteran pass-catcher Samaje Perine until Pacheco returns.

Hunt could emerge as a figure in that respect as well once he finds himself on the active roster. The Toledo product led the league in rushing yards as a rookie, and he topped 1,100 scrimmage yards twice more. His efficiency has taken a dip recently, so expectations will be tempered during his second Chiefs stint. An impressive season could nevertheless boost his market on another Kansas City deal or an outside deal during the spring.

Chiefs To Bring Back Kareem Hunt

September 17th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Chiefs’ first partnership with Kareem Hunt ended badly, the former rushing champion resurfaced on Kansas City’s radar in light of Isiah Pacheco‘s injury. The Chiefs are expected to move fast here.

Hunt is on track to return to the Chiefs, according to veteran reporter Jordan Schultz. Both Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are out of the picture for the Chiefs, who exited Sunday’s Week 2 escape with rookie UDFA Carson Steele and recently added passing-down back Samaje Perine rounding out their RB room.

This will be a practice squad agreement, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Cowboys made this move with Dalvin Cook recently. Hunt had resided in free agency since his latest Browns contract expired. After the Browns brought Hunt back when Nick Chubb went down in Week 2 of last year, the Chiefs will take the same route due to the Pacheco development.

While Chiefs fans may remember Hunt as a burgeoning top-tier running back, he has not displayed that form in a while. He finished last season with a 3.0-yard average per carry (on 135 totes) while teaming with Jerome Ford to replace Chubb. Hunt’s minus-101 rushing yards over expected doubled as the NFL’s third-worst number (per Next Gen Stats) last season.

The two-year Chiefs starter had operated effectively as a Chubb complementary piece in Cleveland, having sought a more lucrative contract in 2022. Hunt, 29, had requested a trade that year but did not end up being moved. The Browns had planned to move on in 2023, only to see Chubb’s injury change the team’s thinking. Despite Chubb landing on the reserve/PUP list due to the severe knee injury he sustained last September, the Browns did not bring Hunt back.

Hunt won the 2017 rushing title as a rookie, and the former third-round pick was on his way to a better 2018 season before video surfaced of him pushing a 19-year-old woman to the ground and kicking her while she was on the floor. This incident occurred during the 2018 offseason at a Cleveland hotel. The Chiefs kept Hunt rostered months after the incident occurred, but video surfacing prompted the team to act. At the time, the Chiefs had indicated Hunt lied to them regarding the events depicted in the video.

Hunt went unclaimed on waivers, but ex-Chiefs GM John Dorsey (then in place as Browns GM) gave him a second chance in free agency in 2019. The Browns extended Hunt — who received an eight-game suspension — on a two-year, $12MM deal in 2020. Hunt signed the extension after Dorsey’s ouster and played four seasons under the Andrew Berry–Kevin Stefanski pairing.

Having accumulated 1,202 scrimmage yards in just 11 games in 2018, Hunt was on course for a second Pro Bowl at the time he was waived. He had already scored 14 touchdowns for a historically explosive Chiefs offense, one that employed Tyreek Hill and a prime version of Travis Kelce. The Chiefs narrowly missed Super Bowl LIII that season but have since won three championships with low-cost RB situations. Hunt may well have been on an extension track — for a team that has become known for being quite lenient when it comes to off-field trouble — in Kansas City, but he settled into a backup role in Cleveland and saw his trajectory change.

Although Hunt played a key role in the Browns’ 2020 playoff return by compiling 1,145 yards from scrimmage and working as the team’s passing-down option, he has not eclipsed 700 scrimmage yards in a season since. Injury trouble intervened in 2021, and he averaged just 3.8 yards per handoff during a disappointing 2022 season. While last year brought a career-low YPC number, Hunt still rushed for nine touchdowns to help the Browns to the playoffs despite Chubb, Deshaun Watson and both starting tackles going down.

The same Chiefs power structure is in place from the time Hunt was cut, though GM Brett Veach was not yet in charge when the Toledo alum was drafted in 2017. Hunt will likely move to Kansas City’s active roster soon, with Steele fumbling Sunday and Perine profiling as more change-of-pace back and pass catcher than workhorse. A committee should be expected here.

Edwards-Helaire is out of the mix on the reserve/non-football illness list. Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula against the Bengals and is heading to IR. While Pacheco is not expected to miss the season, the third-year back will miss much of it. Hunt will be asked to help the Chiefs get by in the meantime.

Chiefs To Host RB Kareem Hunt

September 16th, 2024 at 4:23pm CST by Adam La Rose

Isiah Pacheco is set to be placed on injured reserve due to a fractured fibula. Kansas City’s backfield is thin at the moment as a result, but a familiar face could soon be back in the fold.

Kareem Hunt is set to visit the team tomorrow, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. That news comes after head coach Andy Reid noted (via Nate Taylor of The Athletic) general manager Brett Veach would at least explore the free agent market. Hunt has been available since his final Browns contract expired, and he has not been linked to any suitors until today.

The former third-rounder was drafted by the Chiefs in 2017, and he spent his first two years with the team. That stint included his Pro Bowl rookie campaign during which he led the league in rushing yards, along with a productive follow-up season. Upon being released by Kansas City in 2018, Hunt took a deal with the Browns and remained with the team for five years.

Following his suspension-shortened 2019 season, Hunt had his most successful campaign with the Browns one year later. That earned him a new Cleveland contract averaging $6MM per year, although his production while playing out that pact took a step back. Hunt was a free agent at the start of the 2023 season, but Nick Chubb‘s major knee injury paved the way for him to return. Occupying a backup role to Jerome Ford, Hunt averaged a career-low 3.0 yards per carry last year but set a new personal high with nine rushing touchdowns.

The Chiefs retained Clyde Edwards-Helaire this offseason, but he is currently on the reserve/NFI list. That leaves Samaje Perine and Carson Steele as the team’s only healthy backs on the active roster at the moment. Kansas City has veteran Keaontay Ingram and undrafted rookie Emani Bailey on the practice squad, but plans to promote one of them would no doubt change if Hunt were to sign.

The 29-year-old’s lack of a market should limit his price on a free agent deal with the Chiefs or any other team. Kansas City has just over $6MM in cap space at the moment, so a low-cost Hunt contract would be feasible. It will be interesting to see if tomorrow’s visit produces an agreement.

Browns Not Planning RB Addition; Latest On Nick Chubb

February 22nd, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the new league year not far away, many teams around the NFL have begun restructures and cost-shedding releases to become cap compliant. In the case of the Browns, many have pointed to running back Nick Chubb as a potential cap casualty.

Chubb has one year remaining on his deal, and he is due a non-guaranteed base salary of $11.78MM for 2024. The four-time Pro Bowler will carry a cap hit of $15.83MM, though, which has resulted in speculation he could be let go in a cost-cutting move. His recovery from a major knee injury is a factor in the Browns’ decision, but Chubb should be expected to remain with the organization.

The team will engage in preliminary discussions on a Chubb extension, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveand.com notes. Talks could commence as soon as the upcoming Combine, she adds, although both sides will no doubt await clarity on his rehab before entering into a multi-year agreement. The Browns expect the 28-year-old back at some point in 2024, and a new deal would ensure he remained in place as a focal point of the offense when healthy.

Given the signs pointing to Chubb being retained, Cabot unsurprisingly adds the Browns will not be in the market for a high-priced RB addition this offseason. A number of intriguing backs are set to hit the market, including Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler and Tony Pollard. Rather than investing in one of them as Chubb insurance, though, Cleveland will lean on internal options. The Browns have Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong in place as candidates for a significant workload in Chubb’s absence if he misses the beginning of the campaign.

Both the Ravens and Texans have been connected to a running back pursuit this offseason, and they will have several choices given the number of backs set to be available. Another veteran in that category is Kareem Hunt, who has spent the past five seasons in Cleveland. Cabot confirms the Browns are not interested in another deal for the former Pro Bowler, though, meaning he could be in store for another lengthy wait on the open market.

The Browns are currently over the cap by a margin of nearly $20MM, though the team has a number of restructure candidates to carve out financial breathing space. Chubb could be one of them, but an extension would lower his 2024 cap hit while marking a sign of confidence from Cleveland that a full recovery is expected. It will be interesting to see how much urgency exists from team and player when talks begin.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt To Test Free Agency, Open To Return

January 14th, 2024 at 6:40pm CST by Ely Allen

The Browns were put in a terrible position when star running back Nick Chubb went down with multiple knee ligament tears only two weeks into the 2023 season, forcing the team to navigate 16 more weeks of football without him. Cleveland was fortunate that a former member of a formidable 1-2 punch with Chubb, Kareem Hunt, was available in free agency. While Hunt’s first couple of forays into free agency were not ideal situations, he will land on the market once again this offseason, this time on much better terms.

Hunt’s first bout with free agency had come less than a year after he led the NFL in rushing yards as a rookie with the Chiefs. Hunt was unceremoniously released by Kansas City amid the release of a videotape that showed him pushing a woman to the ground and kicking her after first being physically assaulted by the woman. He was never charged with any crime but was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt list after signing a new deal with the Browns. He ended up serving an eight-game suspension as a result of the incident.

Hunt became a restricted free agent after that first season in Cleveland, eventually signing a two-year, $13.25MM contract extension. Just before the second year of the two-year deal, Hunt requested a trade from the Browns, unhappy with his contract situation. The Browns refused to honor his request, letting him play out the 2022 season on the final year of his contract. He was not re-signed this time and spent seven months in free agency.

After Chubb went out for the season, the Browns reached out, desiring Hunt’s familiarity with the team’s offense among a relatively inexperienced running backs room. Hunt would play out a one-year deal for the remainder of the season. With that season coming to an end yesterday in the Browns’ loss to the Texans, Hunt is once again destined for free agency.

This time, though, Hunt is looking forward to testing the open market. Despite not spending camp or the preseason with the team, Hunt delivered a strong contribution in 2023, scoring more rushing touchdowns this year (9) than he had in any other season of his career.

“I’m definitely going to test free agency and see what the right option is for me or what’s best for me and my family and everything,” Hunt told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “But, for the most part, this is always home for me. It’s Cleveland until I die, so I’m going to have a special place in my heart for them.”

While it sounds like a goodbye letter to Cleveland, Hunt made sure to clarify that he isn’t “closing (any) doors.” He emphasized that he will “always consider being in Cleveland over anything,” but for now, he’ll test the free agent market and see if another franchise decides they need him more.

Browns “Pleased” With Current RB Group

October 5th, 2023 at 7:58pm CST by Ben Levine

The Browns have made a handful of moves to account for Nick Chubb‘s season-ending injury, but that hasn’t stopped the organization from being mentioned as a potential suitor for any RBs who have been or could be made available. When asked specifically if the Browns would consider making a move for disgruntled Colts star Jonathan Taylor, GM Andrew Berry hinted that he’s content with his current running back corps.

“Because of the tampering rules, I know I can’t touch on specific players,” Berry said yesterday (h/t Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram). “We’re always active seekers, participants in the trade market, but I would say we’re pleased with the running back room.”

Jerome Ford topped 100 yards while filling in for an injured Chubb in Week 2, but since he’s entered the starting lineup, he’s put up two lackluster performances. Between the two games, Ford has been limited to 96 yards from scrimmage on 26 touches, although he did find the end zone twice in Week 3.

The team re-signed Kareem Hunt once Chubb went down, and the veteran has garnered the second-most snaps at the position for Cleveland over the past two weeks. However, the veteran RB has also struggled with a 3.9-yards-per-touch mark. Of course, Hunt could also still be finding his groove after waiting until the regular season to sign a deal.

Third-stringer Pierre Strong has put up the best numbers of the bunch, with the second-year pro averaging 5.9 yards on his 13 touches. The former Patriots fourth-round pick has served as the clear RB3 behind Ford and Hunt, and his upside could be a reason why the Browns aren’t in any rush to add reinforcement at the position.

Besides signing Hunt, the Browns also added one of Taylor’s former teammates to the practice squad. Deon Jackson started Week 1 for the Colts but was limited to only 14 rushing yards on 13 attempts. The former UDFA looked serviceable in 2022, finishing with 445 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. For the time being, he’s sitting fourth in the pecking order in Cleveland.

As Berry indicated, the Browns wouldn’t shy away from a no-brainer trade, and plenty could change between now and the October 31 trade deadline. For the time being, it sounds like the Browns will be sticking with their current running backs grouping.

RB Jerome Ford To Start In Cleveland Over Kareem Hunt

September 22nd, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

The Browns had operated with a one-two punch at running back for the past few years in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and, after Chubb’s season-ending knee injury, the two will share a position room, once again. Cleveland brought Hunt back into the fold after a six-month stay on the free agent market, hoping that he can assist the team in replacing some of Chubb’s lost production. That being said, head coach Kevin Stefanski is adamant that second-year back Jerome Ford will be the Browns’ starter moving forward, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.

Ford, a fifth-round pick last year out of Cincinnati, surpassed his rookie year yardage total in the first game of his sophomore season, showcasing his increased role in Hunt’s absence. When Chubb went down midway through the team’s loss to the Steelers last week, Stefanski and company turned to Ford. Ford delivered, utilizing a 69-yard rush late in the game to avoid an otherwise pedestrian performance and ending up with 106 rushing yards in the loss. Pierre Strong, drafted a round before Ford last year by the Patriots, took RB2 duties but only had two touches.

“Jerome is the lead back,” Stefanski told reporters yesterday, “but we have to work through all of those types of things and what Kareem’s ready to do this week if he’s ready to go this week, and what type of load he can carry and Pierre Strong’s role. So, I think we need to work through all of that, but yes, Jerome is the starter.”

Stefanski later informed reporters that Hunt will be available to play this Sunday, according to ESPN’s Jake Trotter, meaning the team intends to figure out how much Hunt can handle this weekend. While the team reportedly explored other running back options like then-Rams rusher Cam Akers, Hunt’s familiarity with Cleveland and his ability to work his way back into the offense fairly easily was a major factor in his signing.

A source had told Cabot that Hunt is down 10 pounds from his playing weight in 2022. His apparent loss of explosiveness last year was one of the reasons the Browns allowed him to walk, so perhaps he’s leaned up in an effort to gain back another step.

While his familiarity allowed him to slip back into the Browns’ offense, Hunt still has some things to learn before he becomes a regular contributor once again. He may end up eventually taking a lead role in the team’s offense if he can outperform Ford, but for now, he’ll fall back into the RB2 role he held behind Chubb for the past four years.

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