Kareem Hunt Needs Clarification After ‘It’s Personal’ Comment
Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt is returning to where it all began for him professionally. Hunt is a member of arguably the NFL’s best one-two punch at the running back position, teaming with Nick Chubb. Hunt didn’t last long with the Kansas City Chiefs after video surfaced of him hitting a female, prompting his release from the team. He recently claimed this weekend’s playoff game against his former team is “personal,” raising a few eyebrows.
Kareem Hunt thriving in Cleveland
Rushing for 846 yards and six touchdowns might seem like just an average year for a running back in the NFL. Kareem Hunt’s numbers, however, are spectacular, considering he’s sharing the backfield with one of the league’s best. Teammate Nick Chubb rushed for 1,067 yards and 12 touchdowns despite missing four games in 2020.
Chubb and Hunt have combined to form possibly the league’s top backfield tandem in the NFL. Chubb is the more powerful back, while Hunt is the quicker of the two and is more of a dual-threat out from his running back position.
Hunt played his college football at Toledo and was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He started all 16 games in his rookie season, rushing for a league-leading 1,327 yards. His time in Kansas City was all downhill from there.
Hunt released by Chiefs after disturbing video surfaces
After his first season in the NFL, Kareem Hunt was involved in an incident that was captured on video. The video appeared to show Hunt hitting and kicking a woman. The victim said Hunt “pushed and shoved her,” according to her account to the Cleveland Police Department.
According to The Sporting News, The Kansas City Chiefs knew about the incident, but then believed Hunt wasn’t truthful when the video was released. The Chiefs then released the second-year running back. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns for the 2019 season. Hunt served an eight-game suspension for the incident.
Hunt has found new life in Cleveland. He’s helped guide the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Now, he gets to return to Kansas City to face the Chiefs on Sunday in the biggest game of his professional career.
For Hunt, the Chiefs game is ‘personal’
During an Instagram Live video Sunday after the Cleveland Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kareem Hunt was already looking ahead to the Kansas City Chiefs. He referred to Sunday’s meeting with the Chiefs as “personal,” repeating the word on several occasions.
Many people had to do a double-take over the “personal” comment. Does Hunt believe the Chiefs shouldn’t have released him after seeing what was on the video? Is he still upset over the team for not giving him another chance?
He seemed to clear things up in a Zoom meeting with reporters Thursday, according to Cleveland19.com. “I just mean it is a big game,” Hunt said. “I came in with guys over there. Bragging rights. Travis (Kelce), Pat (Mahomes) and all of those guys, we are buddies. This is my first time playing against some of my best friends in the NFL. It is definitely going to be for bragging rights and stuff like that for the long run with my guys.”
