Andy Reid claimed the history between Patrick Mahomes and Kareem Hunt led to the decision to make the running back a captain against the Las Vegas Raiders.

On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs moved to 7-0 and remain the sole unbeaten franchise in the NFL for the 2024 season following the 27-20 win over the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mahomes threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, with Hunt adding 59 yards and a score on 21 carries.

Hunt is in his second stint with the Chiefs. After being a third-round selection by the team in the 2017 NFL Draft and leading the league in rushing as a rookie, the 29-year-old was released by the AFC West franchise in 2018 but was brought back earlier this season after starting running back Isiah Pacheco went down with a foot injury.

However, the Chiefs offense hasn’t exactly lived up to their explosive standards of past seasons. Mahomes has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns despite the team’s dominant record, but Hunt has impressed since being brought up to the active roster before Week 5.

Hunt has scored at least one touchdown in each of his last three starts at running back and has run for over 50 yards in all of his appearances. In just his fourth game with the team, the Chiefs made the controversial decision to make the running back a captain against the Raiders which confused fans given his acrimonious departure six years ago.

After the game, Reid discussed the decision. He told reporters: “Yeah, you know, he was in that class with Patrick and it’s almost like he kind of never left.

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Kareem Hunt played alongside Patrick Mahomes after the pair joined the Chiefs in the same draft class

Kareem Hunt played alongside Patrick Mahomes after the pair joined the Chiefs in the same draft class ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

“That’s how I think the guys that have been here see that, and then the guys that haven’t been here have always heard about Kareem and the guys talking about him. He has that veteran leadership ability [and] runs tough. He’s been welcomed back as if he hadn’t left. That’s why we felt comfortable doing that.”

Hunt has established himself as a key part of the defending back-to-back Super Bowl champions’ offense. He has emerged as the team’s leading rusher, going for 308 yards and four touchdowns since coming in for the injured Pacheco.

His 3.9 yards per touch isn’t great, although it is an improvement over the 3.3 mark Hunt put up with the Cleveland Browns in 2023. Despite appearing more worn down this season, the veteran is aiding Kansas City in chewing up the clock and lengthening drives while averaging his most rushing yards per game (77) since his rookie season.

It is unclear if Hunt will be a captain again in Week 9 or if the move was a one-off. Hunt and the Chiefs are next in action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arrowhead Stadium on “Monday Night Football” on Nov. 4.