Kareem Hunt is pumped for Chiefs training camp and for good reason.
Andy Reid’s summer camps are no joke. Every year in St. Joseph, Missouri, the Chiefs grind through one of the NFL’s toughest training camps. But instead of dreading it, running back Kareem Hunt is looking forward to it. Why? Because for the first time in years, he actually gets to start fresh with a full camp.
Hunt, now 30, just re-signed with the Chiefs on a one-year deal. Last season, he became the team’s leading rusher, even though he didn’t join until September. He had to hit the ground running literally without any training camp to prepare.
“I’m excited, man,” Hunt said. “I feel like camp is going to help me for the long haul. Last season, I basically had to start from behind.”
Hunt wasn’t kidding when he joked about coming “off the couch” last year. Sure, he stayed in shape on his own, but there’s a difference between training solo and grinding through an NFL camp. When the Chiefs called him up midseason, he jumped right into action, racking up 724 rushing yards. His second start? A brutal 27-carry game against the Saints. The next morning, he could barely get out of bed.
That wasn’t the first time Hunt missed a real training camp. In 2023, he signed with the Browns midseason after Nick Chubb’s injury. And in 2022, he sat out parts of camp with Cleveland while trying to land a contract extension.
Now, with a full offseason ahead, Hunt is ready to see what he can do with proper preparation.
“That was without a training camp,” he said. “So with one, plus taking care of my body and eating right, I think it’ll help me last through the season.”
What Hunt’s role will be in 2025 is still up in the air. The Chiefs added Elijah Mitchell to the backfield, and Isiah Pacheco is still in the mix. They could even bring in another running back via the draft. But Hunt’s focus is simple: do whatever the team needs.
He got his first taste of a Super Bowl last season, but the Chiefs fell short against the Eagles. That loss is fueling him.
“It put a lot of fire under me. You never want to go to the Super Bowl and lose,” Hunt said. “But I’m grateful for the experience. Now I want to see what it’s like on the other side.”
At 30, Hunt knows this season is a big one for him. But he’s right where he wants to be with a chance to help the Chiefs get back to the top.
“I love playing for the Chiefs, man. The culture is great here,” Hunt said. “It didn’t end the way we wanted, but we’ve got work to do. And I think we’ve got another good shot at it.”
Chiefs’ Kareem Hunt Embraces the Grind of Andy Reid’s Training Camp
