Report: Kareem Hunt Wasn’t Interviewed by NFL During Assault Investigation

Kelvin Kuo/Associated Press

The NFL reportedly never interviewed former Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt during its investigation into his assault of a woman in a Cleveland hotel.

Hunt was released by the Chiefs on Friday after TMZ released hotel surveillance footage of Hunt pushing and kicking a woman during an altercation last February. 

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the NFL did try to subpoena both the hotel and the police to acquire the security footage from Hunt’s alleged assault of the woman though were “unsuccessful in their efforts.” Witnesses the league spoke to, meanwhile, reportedly told the league that Hunt was not involved in the situation. 

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com added that police reportedly never had the video or viewed it:

“According to sergeant and public information officer Jennifer Ciaccia of the Cleveland Police Department, she doesn’t believe anyone with the department saw the video, either. Officers filed two police reports, but the video was not part of the investigation file.

“It was a misdemeanor case, she said, and detectives don’t follow up as they do with felonies. In other words, detectives didn’t go back for the video. They referred victims to the city prosecutor to file charges.”

According to Rapoport, the hotel told the NFL it would only release the video to the authorities. 

As for whether Hunt has a future in the NFL, that remains unclear. Rapoport noted that Hunt is facing “more than the baseline six-game suspension for violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy” and that the NFL is “investigating an incident involving Hunt allegedly punching a man in the face at an Ohio resort in June.”

Hunt could thus be facing a suspension that not only ends his 2018 season—if he’s signed to another team after being released by the Chiefs—but one that could also last well into the 2019 campaign.