Forgiven by Patrick Mahomes, Kareem Hunt Doesn’t Mince Words on Emotional Return to Chiefs

Kareem Hunt thought his time in Kansas City was over in 2018. Back then, he was cut after a video footage went viral, where he was seen knocking a woman down and kicking her at a hotel. While no arrests were made, the team cut him, and it wasn’t until 2024 that they decided to activate him. That was after he spent a week on the practice squad and later made his 2024 debut on September 29 against the Chargers. He was a regular for the rest of the season and also played in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss to the Eagles. 

He has been taking his “second chance” seriously. Hunt suited up Friday despite a quad bruise and finished with three carries for 15 yards in the Chiefs’ 27-29 preseason loss to Chicago. He also had one target that went incomplete. Hunt mixed in with the starters behind Isiah Pacheco, who remains the lead back. And now that he is back, he is ready to tell his story. In an Instagram post, ESPN wrote, “Some stories go full circle. Watch The Kingdom on ESPN+ and Disney+.”

It is a new, six-part ESPN Original Series that takes fans through the Kansas City Chiefs’ pursuit of a three-peat from last season, its legacy, and the players who built the team as a modern-day football dynasty. And Hunt got the chance to share his story as a part of this project. In fact, ESPN shared a clip where he was heard saying: “When you get a second chance, you just want to make the most of the opportunity. Because I never thought I’d be back in Kansas City.”

The reel proceeded to show some of his best NFL moments. Reflecting on his controversy, Hunt said on The Kingdom that he was “so upset about the whole situation. I wish I could go back in time and handle it a lotta bit different.” 

He was “afraid of how everybody looked at” him in the outcome of the video’s release. He was so tense he “didn’t even leave the house” for a while. “You can’t erase history… When it’s all said and done, it’s done. You can’t go back in time.”

In March, he signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million in base salary and up to $2.5 million through incentives, showing he is back. But wat is QB Patrick Mahomes’ stance when it comes to Hunt?

Why Patrick Mahomes forgave Kareem Hunt

Patrick Mahomes, the face of the Chiefs franchise, didn’t shy away from Hunt’s controversial past. “What he did was wrong, but I know in his heart he isn’t a bad person,” Mahomes stated on The Kingdom. Mahomes’ words weren’t just polite nods; they were a clear sign that forgiveness was at the core of the Chiefs’ mindset. “It’s how you can become better and learn from them. I think that’s something that he embraced. He wasn’t going to let that one bad decision define who he is as a person.”

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also threw full support behind Hunt’s redemption arc. Reid acknowledged Kareem Hunt’s mistakes but emphasized growth. “He learned a lesson,” the 67-year-old said. “Too many people don’t get a second chance…He knew he did wrong. You can’t do that. Somebody’s gotta teach you that you can’t do that. He paid for that.” Reid’s take cut through the noise with blunt wisdom— Hunt hit a brick wall but chose to start over the right way.

That forgiveness from the locker room’s leadership made Hunt’s emotional return possible. Through suspensions and rehab, Hunt’s NFL journey is carved by both mistakes and resilience. Mahomes and Reid’s open arms gave him a shot to rewrite his narrative, and Hunt took that shot. His candid reflections, combined with their faith, made the return not just about football but about redemption and just raw truth. What do you think?