Isaiah Pacheco 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 scoring a touchdown.
Pacheco, also known as “Pop”, was born in Vineland, New Jersey on March 2, 1999 to Felicia Cannon and Julio Pacheco. He is the youngest of five siblings, and of Puerto Rican descent on his father’s side. He played Pop Warner Football for the Vineland Blitz in Cumberland County, New Jersey, and attended Vineland High School, where he played both quarterback and running back. Tragically, Pacheco lost two of his siblings within two years of each other. His older brother Travoise died in January 2016 from a stabbing by someone who claimed he acted in self-defense. Pacheco’s younger sister Celeste died from a gunshot wound on September 2017. Her death came just three months after Pacheco committed to Rutgers as a college freshman. Pacheco continues to honor his late siblings by keeping the nickname Pop, first used by his late brother, Travoise. He earned the moniker during a high school game where he knocked the quarterback off his feet, prompting his brother to yell “Pop!” In fact, Isiah hit him so hard, an ambulance had to come to wheel him away. 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.
Pacheco is a devout Christian who often prays before and after games and credits his faith for helping him overcome the challenges and hardships he faced in his life. He also tries to spread the gospel and inspire others with his testimony
Pacheco graduated from Vineland High School in 2017 with a 3.5 GPA. He was a star student-athlete who excelled both academically and athletically. He was a member of the National Honor Society, the Student Council, and the Chess Club. He also participated in various community service projects and volunteer activities. He received several scholarships and awards for his achievements.
Pacheco was a standout player for the Vineland Fighting Clan, where he played both quarterback and running back. He led his team to several victories and broke many records. He rushed for 4,269 yards and 50 touchdowns in his four-year career, averaging 8.7 yards per carry. He also passed for 2,135 yards and 23 touchdowns, completing 60.4 percent of his attempts. He was named the South Jersey Offensive Player of the Year, the Cumberland County Player of the Year, and the Vineland High School Athlete of the Year in his senior season. He also earned All-State, All-Group, and All-Conference honors. He was ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals.
Pacheco committed to Rutgers University on June 21, 2017, choosing the Scarlet Knights over other offers from Syracuse, Maryland, Virginia Tech, and others. He played for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights from 2018 to 2021, rushing 563 times for 2,442 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and scoring 18 touchdowns. He also caught 47 passes for 249 yards and one touchdown. He was a consistent and reliable performer for the Scarlet Knights, leading the team in rushing yards and touchdowns in each of his four seasons. He was named the Rutgers Offensive MVP in 2019 and 2020, and the Rutgers Team MVP in 2021. He also earned All-Big Ten honors in 2019 and 2020, and All-American honors in 2021. He graduated from Rutgers in December 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in communication.
As for his Professional career, Pacheco was selected in the seventh round with the 251st overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He signed a four-year contract worth $3.6 million, with a signing bonus of $104,000. He made his NFL debut in week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, scoring his first career NFL rushing touchdown on a 3-yard run. He recorded his first career start in the Chiefs week 7 game against the San Francisco 49ers. He finished his rookie season with 1,765 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 57 receptions, 374 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns. He led the NFL in rushing yards and was second in rushing touchdowns. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, the NFL Rookie of the Year, and the NFL MVP. He also helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII against the New York Giants, scoring a touchdown on a 15-yard run in the fourth quarter. He became the first player in NFL history to rush for over 1,500 yards, score over 10 touchdowns, and win the Super Bowl in his rookie season.
25 янв 2024
