‘Going back to 216, 4.37 Isiah Pacheco-style’ was the Chiefs RB’s stated objective when going into the bulk.
Isiah Pacheco, the running back for the Chiefs, is starting his fourth NFL season in a new environment.
In his first two seasons with the team, the Kansas City runner was a revelation. He went from being a seventh-round pick to a difference maker who is poised to take over the team’s backfield in 2024. After that, Pacheco suffered injuries, and even though he recovered from a fractured fibula, his play declined in the last stretch.
He’s gained some muscle this offseason to regain his shape, regaining the weight he lost during his midseason rehabilitation last year.
According to Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star, he stated, “Just going back to 216, 4.37 Isiah Pacheco-style,” regarding his objective with the weight gain.
Those figures harken back to Pacheco’s debut at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, where the 216-pound back out of Rutgers blazed his way to 4.37 40-yard dash to attract the Chiefs’ attention.
After missing Weeks 3–12 of the previous season, he wasn’t at that weight by the end of the season and didn’t appear to be as quick.
Regarding his experience from the previous season, Pacheco remarked, “You’re out there working your tail off and just sweating every day and not eating enough to get the weight back.” “There’s not going to be as much time to gain weight during the season, rather than the offseason and the whole program that they have here for us.”
Before breaking his leg last season, Pacheco had 15 carries in Week 1 and 19 carries in Week 2.
After his comeback, he only managed 175 yards and no touchdowns in his final five regular-season games, never surpassing 14 rushing attempts. Pacheco was less effective and less explosive. The fact that the club didn’t pass to him more than five times in each of its three postseason games was obvious to K.C.
Pacheco ended 2024 with a 3.7 YPC after averaging 4.7 yards per rush in his first two seasons.
This isn’t particularly shocking. Similar to Pacheco, fellow running back Tony Pollard needed surgery after suffering a similar injury in January 2023. Even after a full offseason of recuperation, he didn’t appear completely recovered until his final month of games in his subsequent final season with the Cowboys. In less than ten weeks, Pacheco returned to the field.
Nevertheless, this year is crucial for Pacheco and the Chiefs. After being the reigning Super Bowl champions for the previous two seasons, Kansas City is back in the hunt; Pacheco is about to reach the last year of his rookie contract.
The 26-year-old’s return to his hallmark style, where he runs enraged at the ground and even more enraged at would-be tacklers who dare to confront him, would be advantageous to both.
Looking through June’s rose-colored glasses, he seems ready to do precisely that.
“He’s put on a couple pounds of good weight,” said Andy Reid, the head coach. “Last year, he leaned up and got himself down there a little. However, I believe he looks amazing at the moment.
The way Pacheco performs in September and beyond will be crucial to Kansas City’s ascent back to the summit.
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