Isiah Pacheco

Isiah Pacheco
refer to caption
Pacheco in 2023
No. 10 – Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1999-03-02) March 2, 1999 (age 25)
Vineland, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Vineland (NJ)
College:Rutgers (2018–2021)
NFL draft:2022 / round: 7 / pick: 251
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 4, 2024
Rushing yards:1,900
Rushing average:4.6
Rushing touchdowns:13
Receptions:64
Receiving yards:428
Receiving touchdowns:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Isiah Pacheco (born March 2, 1999), nicknamed "Pop", is an American professional football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was drafted by the Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft. In his first two seasons with the Chiefs, he won Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII, scoring a touchdown in the former.

Early life

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Pacheco was born in Vineland, New Jersey to Felicia Cannon and Julio Pacheco.[1][2] He is the youngest of five siblings, and of Puerto Rican descent on his father’s side, and African-American descent on his mother’s side.[1][2] He played Pop Warner Football for the Vineland Blitz in Cumberland County, New Jersey, and attended Vineland High School,[3] where he played both quarterback and running back. His senior year he led the Fighting Clan with a dominating performance to win the Thanksgiving Day Classic against the rival Millville Senior High School.[4]

College career

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Pacheco was heavily recruited by Syracuse, Maryland, Rutgers, Virginia Tech, and other football programs along the East Coast. He committed to Rutgers University on June 21, 2017.[5]

On August 20, 2019, Pacheco had 20 carries for 156 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Massachusetts.[6] Pacheco saw consistent playing time in each of his four collegiate seasons, rushing 563 times for 2,442 yards (4.3 ypc) and scoring 18 touchdowns. He also caught 47 passes for 249 yards and one score.[7]

College statistics

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Isiah Pacheco Rushing Receiving
Season G Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD
2018 11 111 551 5.0 3 2 11 5.5 0
2019 11 169 729 4.3 7 13 83 6.4 0
2020 9 116 515 4.4 3 19 130 6.8 1
2021 12 167 647 3.9 5 13 25 1.9 0
Career 43 563 2,442 4.3 18 47 249 5.3 1

Professional career

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Pre-draft

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10+3⁄8 in
(1.79 m) 		216 lb
(98 kg) 		30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.37 s 1.49 s 2.53 s 4.27 s 7.09 s 33.0 in
(0.84 m)		 9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		 27 reps
Sources:[8][9][10]

Pacheco was selected in the seventh round with the 251st overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.[11]

Kansas City Chiefs

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2022

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Pacheco before a game in 2023

In his NFL debut in week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, Pacheco scored his first career NFL rushing touchdown on a 3-yard run.[12] He recorded his first career start in the Chiefs week 7 game against the San Francisco 49ers.[13] In a Week 11 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, Pacheco rushed for a career-high 107 yards on 15 carries.[14]

He finished the regular season with 830 rushing yards and 130 receiving yards (a total of 960 scrimmage yards), alongside five touchdowns on the ground. He returned 29 kickoffs for 597 yards.[15]

In his first professional season, Pacheco was the starting running back for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. In the Super Bowl, Pacheco had 76 yards and a touchdown as the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35.[16] Following the season, Pacheco underwent surgeries to repair a torn labrum and broken hand, which he stated he had played through during the Super Bowl.[17]

Pacheco at the White House in 2023

2023

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In Week 4 of the 2023 season against the Jets, Pacheco had 158 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown in the victory.[18] In Week 12 against the Raiders, he had two rushing touchdowns in the victory.[19] In Week 17 against the Bengals, he had 130 rushing yards and a receiving touchdown in the victory.[20] Pacheco appeared in 14 games and started 13 in the 2023 season. He finished with 205 carries for 935 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns to go with 44 receptions for 244 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.[21] In each of the first three playoff games for the Chiefs, he scored a rushing touchdown.[22] Pacheco's second NFL season ended with the Chiefs winning Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 with Pacheco rushing for 59 yards and recording six catches for 33 yards.[23] The Chiefs became the first team to repeat as champions since the New England Patriots did it in 2003 and 2004.[24] Pacheco made history in 2024 being the only running back in NFL history to win two Super Bowls in his first two seasons.[25]

2024

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Pacheco returned as the Chiefs starting running back in 2024. He suffered a fractured fibula in Week 2 and was placed on injured reserve on September 18, 2024.[26]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Returning Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Rt Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2022 KC 17 11 170 830 4.9 31 5 13 130 10.0 32 0 29 597 20.6 48 0 4 2
2023 KC 14 13 205 935 4.6 48 7 44 244 5.5 33 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 1
2024 KC 1 1 15 45 3.0 5 1 2 33 16.5 23 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Career 32 25 390 1,810 4.6 48 13 59 407 6.9 33 2 29 597 20.6 48 0 5 3

Postseason

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Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Returning Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Rt Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2022 KC 3 3 37 197 5.3 39 1 6 65 10.8 18 0 2 45 22.5 23 0 0 0
2023 KC 4 4 81 313 3.9 29 3 12 60 5.0 14 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 2 1
Career 7 7 118 510 4.3 39 4 18 125 6.9 18 0 2 45 22.5 23 0 2 1

Personal life

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Pacheco has overcome tragedy as his brother Travoise Cannon was killed in January 2016 and his sister Celeste Cannon was murdered in September 2017.[2] He has tattoos of his sister and brother in a mural on his right arm alongside other tattoos representing essential parts of his roots, including one representing New Jersey, Vineland High School and Rutgers University.[2][27]

References

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  1. ^ a b DeMan, Charlie (September 16, 2023). "Here Are Three Hispanic NFL Rookies To Watch This Season". Press of Latin Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Sargeant, Keith (August 30, 2019). "After heartbreaking tragedies, Rutgers running back Isiah Pacheco plays football for a bigger purpose". NJ.com. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  3. ^ McGarry, Mike (August 18, 2022). "Isaih Pacheco overcomes family tragedy to lead Vineland's football team". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  4. ^ Newcomb, Trevor (November 24, 2016). "Vineland tops Millville, first Thanksgiving Day win since 2008". The Daily Journal. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "Isaih Pacheco Recruiting Profile". 247Sports.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  6. ^ Mills, Andrew (August 31, 2019). "Rutgers defeats UMass in 2019 season opener". NJ.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  7. ^ "Isiah Pacheco College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "Isiah Pacheco Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  9. ^ "2022 Draft Scout Isiah Pacheco, Rutgers NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "Isiah Pacheco 2022 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  11. ^ "Chiefs Select Rutgers RB Isiah Pacheco with Pick 251; NFL Draft 2022". Chiefs.com. April 30, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals – September 11th, 2022". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  13. ^ Rapoport, Ian (October 23, 2022). "Chiefs to start rookie RB Isiah Pacheco over Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. 49ers". NFL.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  14. ^ "Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers - November 20th, 2022". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  15. ^ "Isiah Pacheco 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  17. ^ Teicher, Adam (May 8, 2023). "Chiefs RB Pacheco had surgery on labrum, hand". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  18. ^ "Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets - October 1st, 2023". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders - November 26th, 2023". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  20. ^ "Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs - December 31st, 2023". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "Isiah Pacheco 2023 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  22. ^ "Isiah Pacheco Playoffs Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  23. ^ "Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 11th, 2024". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  24. ^ Maaddi, Rob (February 12, 2024). "Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25–22 over 49ers in overtime". AP News. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  25. ^ Patuto, Greg (February 12, 2024). "Isiah Pacheco makes NFL history after second Super Bowl victory". On The Banks. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  26. ^ Dillon, John (September 18, 2024). "Chiefs make key roster moves ahead of Week 3 matchup vs. Falcons". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  27. ^ Fragoza, James (February 12, 2023). "The Emotional Fuel Behind Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco's Physical Rushing Style". ProFootballNetwork.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
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