The Kansas City Chiefs have won three Super Bowl titles in the last five seasons, so when they suit up for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans this Sunday, most of the players on the roster will be no stranger to the big moment. Perhaps the most high-profile player on Kansas City’s roster who’s never played for the Lombardi Trophy before is veteran running back Kareem Hunt.
Hunt was selected by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft and immediately making a huge impact, leading the league with 1,327 rushing yards in his rookie season. However, he was released on December 1, 2018, shortly after a graphic video emerged of him assaulting a woman in a Cleveland hotel. He did not play again until nearly a season later, and he slowly saw his production dip in a spot role with the Cleveland Browns over the next four-plus seasons. This season, he has returned to Kansas City, taking 200 carries for 728 yards and seven scores, and has thus far stayed out of off-the-field trouble.
Bet on Super Bowl prop bets at DraftKings Sportsbook, including Kareem Hunt Anytime TD Scorer, here.
If the Chiefs want to win a historic third consecutive Super Bowl title, they’re going to need Hunt to have a vintage performance. He’s had a fairly solid playoff run so far, taking a total of 25 carries for 108 yards, and he has scored a touchdown in each of his last four games, including Kansas City’s victories in Weeks 16 and 17. Hunt has effectively usurped Isiah Pacheco as the Chiefs’ lead running back.
In scoring situations this year, Kansas City has leaned heavily on him. Hunt accounted for 60% of the Chiefs’ rushes within the opponent’s 10-yard line during the regular season, the 12th-highest rate in the league. Meanwhile, Pacheco attempted just five carries within 10 yards all season, although he only appeared in seven games.
If any Kansas City running back scores during the Super Bowl, it’ll be Hunt, but the Eagles’ fearsome defensive front will make it an extremely difficult task. During the regular season, Philadelphia allowed just five total touchdowns to running backs, two fewer than any other team. The Eagles’ defensive front has been stellar throughout the postseason, allowing just one touchdown to a running back so far. Even at relatively friendly (+135) odds, I wouldn’t bank on Hunt finding the end zone.
