Isiah Pacheco
refer to caption
Pacheco at the White House in 2023
No. 10 – Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1999-03-02) March 2, 1999 (age 24)
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 2023
Rushing yards:1,765
Rushing average:4.7
Rushing touchdowns:12
Receptions:57
Receiving yards:374
Receiving touchdowns:2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Isiah Pacheco (born March 2, 1999), also known as "Pop", is an American 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 rookie season with the Chiefs, he won Super Bowl LVII and scored a touchdown in the victory.

Early years

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.[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 Thunderbolts.[4]

College career

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]

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 touchdown.[6]

Collegiate statistics

Isiah Pacheco Rushing Receiving
Year 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

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:[7][8][9]
Pacheco Pregame In 2023

Pacheco was selected in the seventh round with the 251st overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.[10]

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

Pacheco is the all-time leading season scrimmage yards leader for a rookie running back drafted in the seventh round.[citation needed] He finished the regular season with 830 rushing yards and 130 receiving yards (a total of 960 scrimmage yards), alongside 5 touchdowns on the ground. He returned 29 kickoffs for 597 yards.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high

Regular season

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 1 1
Career 31 24 375 1,765 4.7 48 12 57 374 6.6 33 2 29 597 20.6 48 0 5 3

Postseason

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 3 3 63 254 4.0 29 3 6 27 4.5 14 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0
Career 6 6 100 451 4.5 39 4 12 92 7.7 18 0 2 45 22.5 23 0 1 0

Personal life

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 South High School and Rutgers University.[2][17]

References

  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. ^ "Isiah Pacheco College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "Isiah Pacheco Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  8. ^ "2022 Draft Scout Isiah Pacheco, Rutgers NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  9. ^ "Isiah Pacheco 2022 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "Chiefs Select Rutgers RB Isiah Pacheco with Pick 251; NFL Draft 2022". Chiefs.com. April 30, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals – September 11th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  12. ^ Rapoport, Ian (October 23, 2022). "Chiefs to start rookie RB Isiah Pacheco over Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. 49ers". NFL.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  13. ^ "Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers - November 20th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  14. ^ "Isiah Pacheco 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  15. ^ "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco had offseason surgery on labrum, hand". espn.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  17. ^ 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.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Isiah Pacheco.
Kansas City Chiefs roster
Kansas City Chiefs 2022 NFL Draft selections
Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVII champions
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