Kareem Hunt
Kareem AJ Hunt (born August 6, 1995) is an American professional football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Toledo Rockets and was selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. Hunt also played for the Cleveland Browns and is widely recognized for his productive rookie campaign and his second stint with Kansas City.
Early Life and Background
Kareem AJ Hunt was born on August 6, 1995, in Elyria, Ohio. He grew up in the Cleveland area and attended South High School in nearby Willoughby, Ohio, where he played for the Rebels football team. As a junior, Hunt rushed for 2,519 yards and 39 touchdowns, and as a senior he produced 2,685 yards and 44 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the most productive high school running backs in the region.
Hunt was rated by Rivals.com as a three-star recruit and chose the University of Toledo to continue his football career. His transition from a prolific Ohio high school program to a Mid-American Conference program set the stage for his development as an every-down back, and he quickly became a focal point of the Rockets’ offense.
Path to Professional Football
As a freshman at Toledo in 2013, Hunt played in 12 games with three starts and rushed for 866 yards on 137 carries with six touchdowns. He had a strong four-game stretch in the season with 127 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Navy, 114 rushing yards and a touchdown against Bowling Green, 168 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns against Eastern Michigan, and 186 rushing yards and a touchdown against Buffalo.
As a sophomore, Hunt played in 10 games, missing three due to injury. In the 10 games that he appeared in, Hunt rushed for at least 101 yards in all of them. He rushed for 1,631 yards on 205 carries with 16 touchdowns and was named the MVP of the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl victory over Arkansas State after rushing for 271 yards and five touchdowns, tying an NCAA record with Barry Sanders. In 2016, Hunt led the Mid-American Conference in both rush attempts and yards and set the Toledo career rushing record with 4,945 yards, third all time in MAC history.
Kareem Hunt Career
Kansas City Chiefs First Stint (2017–2018)
Hunt was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round (86th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft. Following a knee injury to starting running back Spencer Ware in the third preseason game, Hunt was named the starting running back on August 27, 2017. He made his NFL debut on September 7, 2017, against the New England Patriots, finishing with 246 total yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in a 42–27 road victory, the most scrimmage yards ever recorded in an NFL debut.
He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September after leading the NFL with 401 rushing yards and 8.53 yards per carry. On December 19, 2017, Hunt was named to the 2018 Pro Bowl as a rookie. In the regular season finale, a single 35-yard touchdown rush pushed him past Todd Gurley and Le’Veon Bell to claim the 2017 NFL rushing title with 1,327 yards. Hunt was also named PFWA NFL Rookie of the Year and selected to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Cleveland Browns Era (2019–2023)
Hunt was signed by the Cleveland Browns on February 11, 2019, but was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List following an investigation into off-field conduct. The NFL suspended him for the first eight games of the 2019 season, and he made his Browns debut in Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills. He finished 2019 with 43 carries for 179 yards and two rushing touchdowns along with 37 receptions for 285 yards and a receiving touchdown in eight games and three starts.
On September 8, 2020, the Browns signed Hunt to a two-year, $13.25 million contract extension. He finished the 2020 season with 198 carries for 841 yards and six touchdowns to go along with 38 receptions for 304 yards and five touchdowns, and he added two rushing touchdowns in a Wild Card Round victory over the Steelers. In 2023, Hunt signed a one-year contract worth $4 million to return to the Browns following a season-ending injury to Nick Chubb, finishing the year with 135 carries for 411 yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games and two starts.
Kansas City Chiefs Second Stint (2024–Present)
On September 16, 2024, it was reported that Hunt would visit with the Kansas City Chiefs after an injury to running back Isiah Pacheco, and he was signed to the practice squad the next day before being promoted to the active roster a week later. In his second game back with Kansas City, Hunt eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time in four years, rushing 27 times for 102 yards and a touchdown in a 26–13 victory over the New Orleans Saints. He finished the 2024 season with 200 carries for 728 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 23 receptions for 176 yards.
Hunt re-signed with the Chiefs on a one-year deal on March 17, 2025, signaling his continued value to the franchise. In Week 12 of the 2025 season, Hunt rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 30 carries in a 23–20 win over the Indianapolis Colts, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hunt is recognized for his compact frame, low center of gravity, and contact balance that allow him to absorb hits between the tackles while still finishing runs. He shows vision in zone-based schemes, dependable hands out of the backfield, and the stamina to handle heavy workloads, as evidenced by his career-high 30-carry performance against the Colts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hunt’s signature moment came in his NFL debut against the New England Patriots, where his 246 scrimmage yards set an all-time debut record. He also won the 2017 NFL rushing title on a single carry in Week 17, won MVP honors in the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl by tying Barry Sanders’ NCAA record with five rushing touchdowns, and helped the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LIX after the 2024 season.
Kareem Hunt Career Wins
Across his professional career, Kareem Hunt has posted multiple 1,000-yard scrimmage seasons, claimed the 2017 NFL rushing title, and earned 2017 PFWA NFL Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl honors. He has contributed on the ground and through the air in both stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and across five seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
NFL Regular Season Highlights
Hunt burst onto the scene in 2017 with 1,327 rushing yards, earning the NFL rushing title in his rookie year. He has produced multiple seasons with at least six rushing touchdowns, including seven in 2024 with Kansas City, and nine in 2023 with the Browns.
Other Wins & Performances
At the college level, Hunt was a two-time First-team All-MAC selection in 2014 and 2016 and a Second-team All-MAC pick in 2015. He also set the Toledo career rushing record with 4,945 yards and tied an NCAA record with five rushing touchdowns in the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl.
Kareem Hunt Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Kareem Hunt’s family background is limited, and the available sources do not provide verified details about his parents or siblings. As a result, any broader family or athletic lineage is not detailed here.
Personal Life
Hunt was born and raised in Elyria, Ohio, and attended South High School in Willoughby. There is no publicly confirmed information about a spouse or children at this time, and this section focuses only on what is verifiable from established sources.
2025 Season Performance
Kareem Hunt returned to the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year deal signed on March 17, 2025, and continued to serve as a complementary running back alongside Isiah Pacheco. In Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts, he recorded a career-high 30 carries for 104 yards and a rushing touchdown in a 23–20 victory, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the performance.
Through his midseason surge, Hunt demonstrated that he can still handle a heavy workload and produce in short-yardage and late-game situations. His veteran presence in the locker room and reliability in the passing game have made him a valuable rotational piece for a Chiefs team in contention.
Looking ahead to the rest of the 2025 season and the postseason, Hunt is positioned to continue his role as a physical short-yardage back and red-zone threat for Kansas City, with the offense leaning on his experience in high-leverage moments.