Lions find backfield complement, reaching an agreement with Kansas City's Isiah Pacheco

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Allen Park — After agreeing to trade David Montgomery to the Houston Texans last week, the Detroit Lions needed a backfield complement for superstar Jahmyr Gibbs. On Tuesday afternoon, they found their guy, agreeing to terms with Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, a league source confirmed to the Detroit Football Network.

A seventh-round pick out of Rutgers in 2022, Pacheco wasn’t a top producer in college, never topping 1,000 yards from scrimmage. However, he got attention for his playing style and impressive speed and strength combination, running a 4.37 second 40-yard dash and knocking out 27 reps on the bench press, both elite measurements at the position.

Pacheco, 27, quickly emerged as a starting option for the Chiefs during his rookie season. In four years with the club, he’s appeared in 51 games, making 42 starts. Logging 664 touches during his career, he’s averaged 4.4 yards per carry, while hauling in 88 passes for 3,091 yards from scrimmage and 17 total touchdowns.

Pacheco became expendable when the Chiefs reached an agreement with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III on Monday.

The 5-foot-10, 216-pound Pacheco is known for his violent, downhill running style, which he explained in a 2024 interview.

“That running style is just being determined,” Pacheco said in 2024. “Having the mindset of getting the job done. No man can take me down, just having that mindset. Running through faces, like Marshawn Lynch said. Stand on business, 10 for 10.”

The hard-hitting style has come with some consequences. He’s missed time with shoulder, ankle, ribs and knee injuries during this four-year career.