The Kareem Hunt chase has been over for a few weeks now. And while the running back has since signed with the Cleveland Browns, questions remained about the Chicago Bears’ interest in the player.
Those questions received answers on Wednesday:
Bears GM Ryan Pace on any pursuit of Kareem Hunt: “Did we talk about it? yes, did it get serious? no.”
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) February 27, 2019
Matt Nagy on the Bears’ level of interest in Kareem Hunt: “It was something we discussed, but it never became serious for us.”
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) February 27, 2019
It should come as no surprise that Head Coach Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace were on the same page when discussing Hunt in separate press conferences conducted while at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Because even though the Bears left the door open when it came to the possibility of signing Hunt, Pace and Nagy didn’t exactly jump in with two feet at the idea and expressed feelings that there was a ways to go before getting to a point where they would consider signing the free agent running back. Heck, even President George McCaskey followed Pace’s lead and echoed those sentiments and added he hadn’t been approached by Pace or Nagy about a move.
Even though Hunt has signed, he is still facing what is expected to be a lengthy suspension stemming from multiple off-field incidents that ultimately led him to be released by the Chiefs late in the 2018 season.
Other than finding a replacement for Cody Parkey, the position group that has been at the top of every Bears fan’s mind has been running back. Not because Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen aren’t getting the job done, mind you. But there is a window in which Chicago could add a talented back to the room and elevate the offense to another level.
In the eyes of some, that player was Hunt.