The Kansas City Chiefs had a clear priority in the 2026 offseason to overhaul the team's backfield by signing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. Not only did the Chiefs sign Walker, but they also drafted a clear potential backup in Emmett Johnson in the fifth round and signed free agent Emari Demercado as a change-of-pace, do-it-all option. Still, the door shouldn't be fully closed on a reunion with veteran Kareem Hunt as the aging star remains a free agent after an underwhelming 2025 season.
Hunt no longer has any explosive ability, only averaging 3.7 yards per carry, but he offered eight rushing touchdowns and a total of 611 rushing yards. These numbers aren't going to jump off the page, but what KC fans know is just how elite the veteran was in short-yardage situations. There was no reason for Kansas City to worry about its own version of the trendy Tush-Push play when all you have to do is turn around and hand the ball to Hunt, who converted at an unreal level.
There is value in having a third back that is this level of automatic in handling short-yardage situations. With this in mind, the Chiefs should sign Hunt and allow the veteran to come in and fight for the final role at the position.
Second-year back Brashard Smith was extremely underwhelming in his rookie season, and Demercado is far from a proven contributor, leaving the door open for Hunt to potentially win the third-place role.
Chiefs shouldn't close the door on a potential reunion with RB Kareem Hunt just yet
Kansas City shouldn't hand Hunt anything, but what's the harm in allowing the respected veteran to come in and compete for a contributing role? Hunt showed that even in a less-than-ideal situation, he can come out better and more accomplished from it. The upgrade with Walker and Johnson was needed, but there is room remaining for Hunt to be a veteran presence and short-yardage weapon for the Chiefs.
Patrick Mahomes clearly isn't going to be used to sneak the ball, as this was a play avoided for years on end after the quarterback suffered a dislocated kneecap on the same play just before the 2019 playoffs. If anything, the Chiefs are going to be even more careful to avoid putting the ball in the hands of Mahomes, shying away from the quarterback having to be forced into harm's way. This leaves Hunt as a potential option and gives reason to wonder if a re-signing is still on the table.
For Hunt, it makes sense to take a lesser role at this stage of his career, and there is a clear path to fighting for this, as the current options are underwhelming. With this in mind, fans should keep an eye on the former star, understanding that the door remains open to a potential summer reunion.
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