Patrick Mahomes is highly complimentary of Kareem Hunt, Browns as Divisional week begins

The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Cleveland Browns this Sunday in the AFC Divisional round, pitting Patrick Mahomes’ team against Baker Mayfield, former Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt and company.

And while Mahomes is expected to leave it all out on the field this weekend, he sounded quite fond of the Browns when he joined “The Drive” for his weekly interview on 610 Sports Radio. Mahomes already knows Mayfield from their college days, when Mayfield hosted Mahomes for an official visit at Texas Tech.

“I visited Texas Tech, and [Mayfield] showed me around and everything like that,” Mahomes said. “I got to watch them play and everything... I got there right when he transferred to Oklahoma and so we never actually crossed paths that way, but a great dude. I still talk to him to this day. He’s a great dude, a great player and obviously a great leader on that team.”

Mayfield bested Mahomes in 2016, as Oklahoma beat Texas Tech 66-59, in which the two quarterbacks combined for 12 touchdowns and more than 1,250 passing yards. It was a lower-scoring affair when the two met as pros in 2018; the Chiefs beat the Browns, 37-21.

Hunt had three total touchdowns for the Chiefs in that one.

“That’s my dude,” Mahomes said of Hunt. “I came in with Kareem and obviously we’re not together anymore but still stay in touch. He’s a heck of a football player and someone that was one of my best friends when we first got on the team together.”

Mahomes and Hunt were both members of the Chiefs’ 2017 NFL Draft class and were teammates until Hunt’s release midway through the 2018 season. Mahomes said he reached out to Hunt after the Browns won their Wild Card game over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.

“I actually texted him [Sunday] night,” Mahomes said. “He has a lot of success on that field every opportunity he gets. He’s a great football player and someone that I know who will keep getting better and better as his career goes on.”

Hunt compiled 1,145 scrimmage yards and 11 total touchdowns in 2020 as the Browns’ spell back behind Nick Chubb.

“He’s a special football player,” Mahomes added of Hunt. “He works hard. He finishes every single play. He catches and runs. He can do it all. I’m happy for him that he’s back home in Cleveland and he’s able to go out there and play really good football.”