The early days of 2025 NFL Free Agency saw the Chicago Bears attack the trenches with the signings of Drew Dalman to add to the offensive line, and Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo to the defensive line.
In the days since, the Bears have turned their attention to adding playmakers to Ben Johnson's offense. Olamide Zaccheaus was offficially introduced by the Bears on Monday with the indication that he could be the team's new slot receiver. Among the reasons why Zaccheaus is a natural fit for the Bears' offense under Johnson is that he does not shy away from blocking in the running game.
Speaking of the running game, the Bears brought running back Travis Homer back on a one-year deal. Homer opened the season as the Bears' change-of-pace running back in a decision that highlighted Shane Waldron's lack of personnel awareness. Once Waldron was fired during the season, Homer's true value to the Bears was on special teams.
In an odd correlation, Jeremy Fowler seems to have suggested that the Bears were interested in Kareem Hunt prior to re-signing Travis Homer.
Another option for Hunt before he signed back with #Chiefs -- the #Bears, whose running backs coach, Eric Bieniemy, spent two seasons with Hunt in Kansas City.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 18, 2025
Chicago ended up bringing back Travis Homer, as @AdamSchefter reported. https://t.co/CArafbKXoF
The indication here is that the Bears were in on Hunt but once he re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bears pivoted back in the direction of Homer. On the surface, that correlation doesn't add up. Homer's primary role on the Bears in 2025 figures to be on special teams while their interest in Hunt likely would have been for a role in Johnson's offense.
Hunt had a resurgent 2024 season with the Chiefs, rushing for 728 yards and 7 touchdowns while playing mostly in place of an injured Isiah Pacheco. If Hunt would have signed with the Bears, he likely would have been the running back Johnson used for plays in between the tackles with D'Andre Swift being the running back on outside zone plays.
If anything, the Bears' theoretical interest in Hunt does suggest that the team will be targeting a running back during the early rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft as they look for a complement to Swift.