Kansas City Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt has a golden opportunity to do something special and won't let it slip through his fingertips.
The former third-round draft pick finds himself on the active roster for the Chiefs for the first time since Nov. 30, 2018 . He's older, wiser, and changed after spending the past five seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
Asked about whether he thought he'd ever get a chance to play for Kansas City again, Hunt didn't hold back his honest opinion.
"Honestly, no, I didn't think I'd end up back here," Hunt told reporters, bluntly. "But you know, it's crazy how some things happen to work out."
This did happen to be one of those crazy instances. Hunt was still available after offseason core muscle surgery, waiting for what he felt was the right opportunity. The Chiefs, of course, lost starting Isiah Pacheco for the bulk of the season due to a broken fibula . The most important piece of the puzzle was Hunt doing the work off the field.
"It was a lot, honestly, it was a lot of emotions," Hunt said about rejoining the team. "I was very excited, a little nervous, and stuff like that. So I just, I said, 'These guys know me. I just got to go and be myself.'"
Hunt admitted that it was tough to see the Chiefs win Super Bowls without him, knowing he could have been a part of those teams. He says he was happy for Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and other teammates. That's all in the past as he looks forward to helping Kansas City defend their latest title and do something that no other team has done in NFL history.
"I mean, that's that's been my goal," Hunt said of winning a Super Bowl title. "I feel like any player who steps on the football field wants to, you know, get a championship ring and it'll be a dream come true for me ever since I was a little kid. And, you know, I couldn't be more excited to help these guys defend that title and come back around here and see all these familiar faces and family here."
Hunt is expected to make his 2024 debut in Week 4 vs. Chargers
While it remains to be seen what his role will look like in his return, Chiefs HC Andy Reid confirmed Hunt will play in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Hunt doesn't even necessarily know what's in store for him. He's just relishing the opportunity to play alongside his teammates and for Coach Reid again.
"It's still hard to envision," Hunt explained. "I guess once that day comes, it's going to feel real. Because, you know, it's 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 doing 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."
Reid told reporters that Hunt had a good week of practice last week, primarily working on the scout team offense. It was an opportunity for him to get his legs under him after not going through training camp or the offseason with another team.
"It just felt good being out there running the football again and playing football," Hunt said. "And honestly, that's what you need to do to get football-ready, game-ready is go out there and practice, make those sudden cuts, and finish your runs and stuff like that. So I feel like it did a good job of preparing me and can't wait to keep stacking days."
Asking a running back to recapture their glory days six years after the fact is a tough ask. Hunt, however, is convinced that he's still the same guy he was when he led the league in rushing as a rookie in 2017. He knows he can still be the guy who helped the Chiefs to one of the most prolific offenses they've seen in 2018.
"Yeah, I believe I'm very capable of that still," Hunt said, with a grin. "And I'm excited to go help shock the world and show them I still got it."
Related: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes reveals what he loves most about second-year WR Rashee Rice
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