Football is a funny business. One day you’re the league’s rushing king, and the next, you’re basically a footnote in a team’s history. Most people thought Kareem Hunt's story in Kansas City ended years ago. We all remember the 2018 release. It was messy. It felt final. But here we are in 2026, and Hunt is still standing in the Chiefs' backfield while younger, faster players have come and gone.
Honestly, it’s about more than just stats. It's about a guy who knows where the sticks are when it’s 3rd and 2 and the game is on the line.
The 2025 season was a wild ride for the Chiefs' run game. When Isiah Pacheco went down with that MCL sprain against the Commanders, everybody panicked. Rightfully so. Pacheco is the engine. He runs like he’s trying to bite the grass off the field. But when that engine stalled, Andy Reid didn’t look for a flashy rookie. He looked at the guy who was already in the building, the one who “wanted to redeem himself,” as Reid put it.
Kareem Hunt and the Art of the "Old Man" Run
Kareem Hunt isn't the 2017 version of himself. He’s not going to rip off a 70-yard touchdown and make three safeties miss in the open field anymore. His 2025 average of 3.7 yards per carry tells you that. It’s not "wow" numbers. But if you watch the tape of that Week 12 game against the Colts, you see why he’s still there.
30 carries.
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That’s a massive workload for a 30-year-old back in the modern NFL. Most guys his age are looking at retirement homes or TV gigs, but Hunt was out there grinding. He finished that 2025 campaign with 611 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. Is it elite? No. Is it exactly what a team needs when their star quarterback is dealing with a rotating door of receivers and an ACL recovery? Absolutely.
Andy Reid has this way of talking about Hunt that feels different than how he talks about other players. He mentions his "low center of gravity" and his "lateral cutting ability." Basically, Hunt can turn his body sideways to squeeze through a gap that shouldn't exist. It’s veteran savvy. He’s an "energy-giver" now.
The Isiah Pacheco Conundrum
Then you have Isiah Pacheco. The contrast is jarring. Pacheco is a 7th-round success story that felt like it was destined for a massive contract. But 2024 and 2025 were brutal for him. The fractured fibula in '24 was the start. Then the MCL in '25. By the time he came back late in the 2025 season, the explosion just wasn't quite there.
Fans on Reddit and X were losing their minds. "Why is Hunt getting 17 carries while Pacheco only gets 5?" was the common refrain during the late-season push. The truth is probably simpler than a conspiracy: Pacheco wasn't 100%. Even Andy Reid, who usually keeps things close to the vest, hinted that Hunt’s "senior leadership" and reliability in pass protection made him the safer bet while Pacheco healed.
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It’s a tough pill to swallow for fantasy managers who drafted Pacheco high. They saw the 900-yard seasons and the violent running style and expected a superstar. Instead, they got a committee. A messy, frustrating committee.
The Numbers That Actually Matter
If we look at the 2025 totals, the split tells the story of a team trying to survive:
- Kareem Hunt: 163 carries, 611 yards, 8 TDs, 3.7 YPC.
- Isiah Pacheco: 118 carries, 462 yards, 1 TD, 3.9 YPC.
Hunt was the goal-line guy. He was the "I need two yards or I'm going to lose my mind" guy. Pacheco was the "maybe he breaks one" guy, but those break-away runs were few and far between as he dealt with the knee.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Backfield
The biggest misconception is that this is a talent competition. It’s not. It’s a role competition.
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Isiah Pacheco is the future—or at least he was supposed to be before the injuries piled up. He’s in the final year of his rookie deal now. That’s a scary place for a running back with a history of leg issues. Meanwhile, Hunt is on a one-year, $1.5 million deal. He’s cheap. He knows the playbook better than anyone. He’s essentially a coach who still wears pads.
People think the Chiefs "failed" to get a real RB1. Maybe they did. They signed Dameon Pierce, but he barely saw the field. They have Brashard Smith, who is basically a wide receiver in the backfield. But at the end of the day, when it’s late December and the wind is howling at Arrowhead, Andy Reid trusts the guy who won’t fumble. He trusts the guy who can pick up a blitzing linebacker.
Looking Ahead to 2026
So, what happens now? Hunt is a free agent again in 2026. He’s 30. He was limping off the field half the time last November. The wheels haven't fallen off yet, but they're definitely wobbling.
Pacheco is fighting for his NFL life. This coming season is everything for him. If he can't regain that 4.5+ yards-per-carry efficiency, the Chiefs might move on entirely. They’ve shown they aren't afraid to let a guy go if the production doesn't match the price tag.
If you’re watching the Chiefs this year, stop looking for the next Jamaal Charles. That's not what this is. This is a blue-collar backfield. It’s about Kareem Hunt putting his head down and Isiah Pacheco trying to find his spark again.
Actionable Insights for the Season Ahead:
- Watch the Injury Reports: Pacheco’s availability is the only thing that dictates Hunt’s value. If Pacheco is active, Hunt is a short-yardage specialist. If Pacheco is out, Hunt becomes a 20-carry workhorse by default.
- Red Zone Targets: Hunt is the clear favorite for goal-line work. He has a knack for finding the end zone even when the line collapses.
- Passing Downs: Don't sleep on Hunt's hands. He still has better receiving instincts than most of the younger backs on the roster, which keeps him on the field during two-minute drills.
- Contract Motivation: Watch Pacheco’s usage early. Since he's in a contract year, the Chiefs will either ride him to see what he’s worth or limit him to preserve his health for a possible trade or cheap extension.
- The "Handcuff" Rule: In any competitive setting, you cannot own one without the other. This backfield is a single unit shared by two very different players.