Isiah Pacheco has found a new home.
The former Rutgers star, and Vineland, NJ native, has agreed to a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions, according to multiple reports.
The Lions moved quick on day two of free agency to replace David Montgomery, who was traded to the Houston Texans. Pacheco will join Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield in Detroit.
Pacheco was a seventh-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. As a rookie, he took over as the primary back and finished with 830 yards and five touchdowns.
He continued to have a big role with the Chiefs in his sophomore campaign, carrying the ball 205 ties for 935 yards and seven touchdowns.
Pacheco became the first running back in NFL history to win two Super Bowl titles during his first two years in the league. He was apart of a Chiefs’ dynasty that went to three straight as well. Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula in 2024 before serving as a backup to Kareem Hunt last season. He will now get the chance to be a rotational piece in Detroit behind Gibbs.
Not only is Pacheco joining a new team, he will be apart of the NFC North where he will face Kyle Monangai and the Chicago Bears twice next season.
Pacheco and Monangai spent one year as teammates in 2021. Pacheco led the team in rushing yards in his final season before Monangai took over. He went onto have All-Big Ten caliber seasons, rushing for 1,000 yards in back-to-back years. The two seventh-round picks have yet to face off in the regular season, but now will be scheduled to play twice in 2026.
