The Cleveland Browns fired running backs coach Stump Mitchell last week, and now, Mitchell has gotten the opportunity to take aim at Kareem Hunt.
During an interview with Camryn Justice of News 5 Cleveland, Mitchell spoke about his relationship with Hunt, and apparently, it wasn’t very amicable.
“Well, the thing that I couldn’t do while I was there is get the best out of Kareem. If they bring him back, I hope the next coach will be able to get the best out of Kareem,” Mitchell said. “As a coach, all you want to do is to make a player better, but I wasn’t able to get him to not be the last guy in meetings, not to be out at practice on time. Kareem is a hell of a player, but this is a team game, you know, and I tried to use every avenue that I could with Jacoby Brissett, also Deshaun [Watson], those guys talking to him. But timing in this business is everything.”
The Browns signed Hunt in late September following a season-ending injury to fellow halfback Nick Chubb. It represented Hunt’s second stint in Cleveland, as he had previously played for the team from 2019 through 2022.
Needless to say, Hunt’s production was limited this year, as he rushed for 411 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging a meager three yards per carry. He logged just 15 catches for 84 yards.
Hunt, who played his collegiate football at Toledo, was originally selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
He spent the first two seasons of his career with the Chiefs, but was released midway through 2018 due to some off-the-field trouble. Hunt’s rookie campaign was brilliant, as he led the league with 1,327 rushing yards to go along with eight scores on the ground. In addition, he hauled in 53 receptions for 455 yards while reaching the end zone three times.
The 28-year-old hasn’t come close to replicating that production since.
We’ll see where Kareem Hunt ends up in 2024.
The Browns went 11-6 and were knocked out of the Wild Card Round of the playoffs this season.
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