While the Kansas City Chiefs offense, the hallmark of their burgeoning dynasty had sputtered all 2023 regular season long, one bright spot in that attack had been the continual growth and effectiveness of two-time Super Bowl champion Isiah Pacheco. For a team as heavily reliant through the air making passes by Patrick Mahomes, the elevation of Pacheco had given some wiggle room to their playbook last year.
Despite a late selection, right at the tail-end of the 2022 NFL Draft, Pacheco has quickly become a vital, integral part of the Kansas City lineup. During his rookie season, he got limited opportunities to begin the year. However, throughout the season, he would earn the trust of his teammates and more importantly, coach Andy Reid. 6 weeks into the year, Pacheco would make his first NFL start.
Just 4 weeks later, he would tally his career high with 107 yards against divisional rival, Los Angeles Chargers. Despite starting the season with limited playing time, Pacheco quickly became a dominant force to be reckoned with. For the year, he would finish with the most total scrimmage yards for a 7th-round drafted rookie. With 830 yards as a rusher and an additional 130 as a receiver, Pacheco seamlessly fit into the Kansas City attack.
Throughout the postseason, he would continue to showcase his value, with his “cartoonish” running style immediately catching everyone’s eye. For the playoffs, he would total almost 200 yards through 3 games, including a 76-yard, 1-touchdown performance in the Super Bowl that helped propel the Chiefs to victory.
His second season, however, saw immense growth from Pacheco. While the receivers dropping catches in the regular season had become a recurring theme for the Chiefs last season, Pacheco’s consistency was a shining light. Despite missing multiple games due to injury, Pacheco was sensational carrying the ball, totaling 935 yards in 2023. However, his production did not stop at the end of regular season, as he was one of the most integral pieces on Chiefs offense in postseason too, where he went on to rush for 313 yards in 4 games.
Isiah Pacheco College
The youngest of five siblings, Pacheco, after recruitment to major programs like Syracuse, Maryland, Rutgers, Virginia Tech, and other programs, would eventually commit to Rutgers.
During his 4-year stay at the college, Pacheco would showcase some obvious potential. However, his time there could be best described as mediocre. With a size and stature a shade under what is necessary to handle the physicality of the NFL and the running back position, a truly transcendent run at the collegiate level was the only option for a high draft slot for Pacheco. However, over his tenure, his numbers would remain remarkably unchanged, hovering around the 550-600 rushing yards mark, and peaking in 2019 with 729.
But, what finally got him through the draft was a spectacular performance at the Combine. Whether it was a 4.37-second 40-yard dash or an equally impressive 1.49 seconds on the 10-yard split, his numbers were truly standout across the board. As a result, the Chiefs took a chance on him right at the tail-end of the draft, in the seventh round with the 251st overall pick.
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FAQs on Isiah Pacheco College
A: Isiah Pacheco parents are Felicia Cannon and Julio Pacheco.
A: Isiah Pacheco was born and brought up in Vineland, New Jersey.
A: Isiah Pacheco signed a four-year rookie-scale contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.
A. Isiah Pacheco is 25 years old as of December 2024.
