KANSAS CITY, Mo. – When running back Kareem Hunt left the team’s practice facility for the last time as a member of the Chiefs in 2018, running back Kareem Hunt didn’t dare dream he would ever return.

So it was still with a sense of surprise, more than a week after rejoining the Chiefs, that he was back.

“It’s crazy how some things happened,” Hunt said. “It was a lot, honestly. It was a lot of emotions. I was very excited, a little nervous and stuff like that, (but) these guys know me. I just have to be myself.”

The Chiefs activated Hunt to the active roster after a week on the practice squad, and coach Andy Reid said Hunt would play in Sunday’s game against the Chargers in Los Angeles.

Hunt’s return to the Chiefs is quite a twist indeed. The team released him midway through the 2018 season when video surfaced of Hunt kicking and pushing a woman outside his home.

The Chiefs said at the time that Hunt had not been honest about the incident when they asked him about it. He then signed with his hometown Cleveland Browns, for whom he played the past five seasons.

“I was very young at the time, 23, and had a lot of success and felt like I needed time to invent myself and learn, and I felt like it was good for me to do that,” Hunt said . “I had the opportunity to go to the Browns and everything, and that’s my hometown, so I think it worked out.

“I learned that not everyone has my best interest at heart, even family, friends and things like that. I just had to think about a lot of things and look at, ‘How did I get here?'”

Hunt acknowledged the difficulty of watching the Chiefs win championships from a distance. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 2019, the year after he was released, and again in 2022 and 2023.

“I just had to think about the good, positive things,” Hunt said. “I was so excited for Coach Reid to win multiple Super Bowls. I also wanted to be the guy to help him get there. I still have a lot of good friends on this team and I couldn’t be more excited for them to see how they achieve their goals reaches.

“I was part of it in the beginning, and I was so happy and excited for them. I wanted them to win all the time, and they deserve it. They have great coaches, great players, and everyone comes and does it .” their work.”

Hunt could be part of a championship team if the Chiefs can win the Super Bowl again this season.

“That’s been my goal,” he said. “I feel like every player that steps onto the football field wants to get a championship ring, and it will be a dream come true for me since I was a little kid, and I couldn’t be more excited to help these guys.” defend that title.”

Reid said he wasn’t sure how much Hunt would play against the Chargers. The Chiefs used rookie Carson Steele and veteran Samaje Perine as their running backs in last week’s win over the Atlanta Falcons.

No matter how much he plays, Hunt said he will be the same player he was for the Chiefs years ago. He led the NFL as a rookie in 2017 and was on pace for another 1,000-yard season in 2018 when he was released.

“I believe I’m still very good at that, and I’m excited to help shock the world and show them that I’ve still got it,” Hunt said. “It’s still hard to imagine. I think once that day comes, it will feel real because it’s been a long time coming. I can’t wait to get red again and go out there with these guys and do it Everything is on the line for them. And I imagine I’m going to go out there and whatever I’m asked to do, just do it at the highest level and help find a way to keep this winning going here.