There was a time when Kareem Hunt wasn’t sure if he’d ever play in an NFL game again. Similarly, Matt Araiza wondered if he would ever get the chance to punt again.
However, thanks to a mix of need and desire, the Chiefs gave both players a chance to continue their careers. Now, Hunt and Araiza are aiming for a Super Bowl title with Kansas City, working towards an unprecedented third consecutive championship.
“It does feel a little bit like redemption, honestly,” Hunt said on Thursday, the last day of a busy week filled with media obligations before the game against the Eagles. “Like it’s a blessing, and it’s meant to be.”
The stories of Hunt and Araiza are similar but also different, with both experiencing incredible highs and tough lows.
Hunt began his NFL career with the Chiefs, drafted in the same class as Patrick Mahomes, who quickly became one of his best friends. As a rookie, Hunt ran for over 1,300 yards and earned a Pro Bowl spot, finishing second to Alvin Kamara in the AP Rookie of the Year voting.
In the next season, as Mahomes took over as starting quarterback, Hunt helped lead the Chiefs to the playoffs. However, in November 2018, a video surfaced showing Hunt kicking a woman in a hotel hallway in Cleveland. While no charges were filed after the woman stopped cooperating, the Chiefs quickly released Hunt.
Hunt went on to sign with the Cleveland Browns, where he served an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. Over the next five years with the Browns, Hunt ran for more than 2,200 yards in a rotation. However, after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia, Hunt struggled to find a team, with many being cautious. But when the Chiefs lost Isiah Pacheco to injury, Hunt reached out to coach Andy Reid.
Cleveland Browns players celebrate after his touchdown in the 1st half“I think Andy has a big heart, and he sees the best in everybody,” Hunt said. “He knows me as a person. He knows everybody. He’s like a father figure to me. He loves giving second chances because he believes in us.”
For Araiza, who was known as “Punt God” for his powerful punts at San Diego State, the Chiefs needed a new punter after Tommy Townsend’s departure. Araiza’s career was paused after a woman filed a lawsuit accusing him of being involved in a gang rape at an off-campus party in 2021. Araiza and other players involved denied the claims, and after an investigation, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office announced that no charges would be filed.
In July 2023, Araiza filed a defamation lawsuit against the accuser, and both sides agreed to drop the lawsuits in December without admitting any wrongdoing or exchanging money.
“It was a long process,” said Brett Veach, the Chiefs’ general manager. “We go through the whole process with our entire intel and security team. When it came through, we gave the green light, and it was an opportunity for him.”
Araiza has kept quiet about the case, instead focusing on his career. However, during training camp, he admitted there were times when he wondered if he should look for another job.
“Honestly, it kept going back and forth in my mind,” Araiza said. “But yeah, there were a lot of moments where I thought it was over.”
Both Hunt and Araiza have proven they are far from done. Now, they are on track to help the Chiefs win another Super Bowl.
“Just make sure you keep your nose clean, right? That’s the important part,” Reid said. “Go play football. I think people deserve a second chance if they’ve done something to work on the first part of it.”
