Getty Thanks to RB Kareem Hunt delivering a big-time performance, the Chiefs got back on track.

The Kansas City Chiefs delivered a much-needed win in Week 12, and many players were to thank. Despite his fumble in the second half, running back Kareem Hunt should be at or near the top of the list.

That may not seem appropriate, especially when considering his 3.5 average yards per carry. Going beyond the raw box score has been the story of Hunt’s second go-round in Kansas City, though.

This week, members of the Chiefs organization are letting it be known how much they appreciate Hunt’s efforts.

Kareem Hunt Praised for Vintage Performance in Week 12 Against Colts

At age 30, Hunt toted the ball a career-high 30 times in Sunday’s 23-20 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts. The former third-round pick was effective, routinely moving the chains and amassing 104 rushing yards with a touchdown.

Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy knows how rare it is for someone with Hunt’s mileage to still be a workhorse back in any capacity. With nearly 1,350 regular-season carries under his belt, Hunt is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. Nagy believes that resilience and ability to show up reflected the entire team’s performance.

“We joke with him,” Nagy began. “I mean, 30 carries, and for somebody that’s no spring chicken for where he is at. He’s so tough [and] is such a valuable part to this offense. For him to come back the way he did just shows his leadership. I think the guys, too, on the sideline were so great with him, just being there for him. That’s probably one of the things that throughout that game, as that game went on, early on it didn’t go the way we wanted it to go but the guys stuck together and then we found a way to win in the end.”

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes echoed that sentiment. The two-time NFL MVP recognizes that his leading halfback has been banged up this season. Playing through pain or discomfort is nothing new to Hunt, nor is fatigue. He responded by helping lift the Chiefs to a season-defining outcome.

“He’s a warrior,” Mahomes said. “He’s someone that truly wants to win. He wants to compete — he wants to be out there for his guys and give everything that he has, and I think he showed that. He showed it all season long, but he really showed that this week, and I’m sure he wasn’t feeling great running some of those runs back-to-back-to-back, but he was going to do whatever it takes to win. You need those guys on your team.”

Where Does Hunt Fit Into Chiefs’ Backfield Picture Moving Forward?

Hunt’s Week 12 showing was good enough to earn him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. He lifted Kansas City to a whopping 10 first downs against Indy, the second-most by a player this season. Their late-down rush success rate, 80%, slotted in at the 75th percentile according to rbsdm.

In his return campaign last year, Hunt recorded 200 regular-season rushes with a 55.5% success rate and a 3.6 yard-per-carry average. This year, on 116 carries, he’s up to a career-best 57.8% success rate and a 3.9 YPC mark — his best since 2021 (albeit still not great).

Per SumerSports, among all running backs with 50+ rushes in 2025, Hunt is third in EPA/play with 0.08. He also owns the second-lowest rate of rushes stopped for a loss at 3.45%. He’s taking the workload in stride, as he’s simply doing what the Chiefs need him to do.

“You know, it’s fun,” Hunt said. “Definitely get to play a lot of football. That’s what I love to do, so it’s fun.”

The coming games will help determine what Hunt’s end-of-year role will be. Running back Isiah Pacheco is returning for Thursday’s Thanksgiving game against the Dallas Cowboys. As Kansas City reintroduces him to the lineup, it’s fair to assume Hunt won’t be involved quite as much.

Perhaps that will allow Hunt to be maximized, as well as a bit fresher for a potential playoff run.