Kareem Hunt will 'worry about tomorrow tomorrow' as Browns season ends in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — Kareem Hunt stood in front of his locker inside Acrisure Stadium on Sunday and answered the question. It may very well not be the last time Hunt stands in that locker room answering questions.

However, it's almost a foregone conclusion that it'll be the last time Hunt does so as a member of the Cleveland Browns. The final year of the running back's contract essentially came to an end when the Browns wrapped up their season with a 28-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"Man, I guess I’ll worry about tomorrow tomorrow," Hunt said after the game. "I ain’t really worried about it."

If Sunday was the last time Hunt will wear a Browns uniform, it was like his whole four-year stint with his hometown team. Flashes of explosiveness, but an underwhelming statistic output due in part to some injury issues.

Hunt had four carries for 13 yards against the Steelers, against whom he had rushed for 47 yards on 12 carries in a Week 3 win in Cleveland. Much like that first meeting, he also had three catches on four targets, this time for 15 yards.

However, Hunt also left the game late in the second quarter after a 4-yard run to be evaluated for a possible head injury. He cleared all of the tests and was able to return in the second half.

In the end, no matter what tomorrow or the next day may hold, Hunt believes he left it all on the field.

"Yep," Hunt said. "That’s all I can do is go out there and take it play by play and do my job."

Part of that job is what Hunt did on the field. Another part of it is the business side of things, which will slowly getting rolling between now and the start of free agency at 4 p.m. March 15.

When that time arrives, there's a strong chance Hunt will be among the running backs on the market looking for a new deal. There's always a chance that deal could come from the Browns, the team that took a chance on him after he was released by the Kansas City Chiefs due to an off-the-field incident involving a woman.

However, after a 2021 season limited to just eight games due to injuries and a bout with COVID and a recently concluded season in which his productivity declined, the chances of Hunt getting a new contract with the Browns seem slim. Although he acknowledged he can't worry about the future, he also didn't deny the thought of Sunday being his last game with the Browns crossed his mind.

"I mean, yeah," Hunt said. "I did but it’s part of the business we’re in. So I’m going to just do my best to take it day by day and see wherever God decides where he wants me to be."

Hunt's numbers may not have been overwhelming based on the NFL rushing title standard he set as a rookie in 2017 in Kansas City. It may not even have been what some expected after the season opener at Carolina, when it appeared a concerted effort was being made to truly make the backfield of Hunt and Nick Chubb work as a legitimate tandem.

Chubb certainly solidified himself as one of the all-time Browns greats with his performance his season. His 77 rushing yards against Pittsburgh gave him 1,525 yards, making him only the second Browns back — Jim Brown being the other — to clear 1,500 yards.

"Nick is a great teammate, a great person, one of my best friends," Hunt said. "I’m happy for him. He could’ve did that multiple years, I feel like. He’s always been a not selfish guy and always playing hard for his team no matter what the scoreboard says."

Hunt, meanwhile, wasn't able to achieve those kind of stats. However, if nothing else, he believes he showcased something for any potential suitors.

The 123 rushing attempts Hunt finished with are the second-most for him over his time with the Browns, behind only the 198 he had during the 2020 playoff season. So, too, were the 468 rushing yards second only to the 841 he had that season, which included not only a regular-season win over Pittsburgh but also a playoff win in the same stadium in which his Browns career may have ended on Sunday.

"It meant a lot," Hunt said of this season. "It don’t get much better for playing for your hometown team and giving it your all each and every time you touch the field. But God got a plan. I’m looking forward to what he has in store for me, so we’ll see what it is."

Ever since that surreal January night in 2021 when the Browns turned five Steelers turnovers and a 28-0 first-quarter lead into their first playoff win since New Year's Day 1995, they've been chasing and falling short of duplicating the successes of that season. Instead of stacking postseasons, they stacked back-to-back losing seasons, including a 7-10 record this year.

The on-field memories may not be all warm and fuzzy for Hunt, especially over the last two seasons. However, having played high school football just a few miles east of Cleveland at Willoughby South, then going on to play collegiately at the University of Toledo, Hunt is going to try to cherish the memories he had to at least spend a few years of his professional career in his hometown.

"It was great," Hunt said. "I got a lot of great friends, family all around and it’s something that a kid from Cleveland always wanted to do. So growing up it’s really a dream come true. I feel like I lived that out and I’m excited to see what else takes place."

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kareem Hunt will think about future later after Browns season ends