The Kansas City Chiefs chose not to spend any of their premium picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on a running back, which shows that they are placing a great deal of confidence in Isiah Pacheco after a 2024 season that completely blunted whatever positive momentum he had going for him.
Pacheco ran for just 310 yards in a season marred by injuries, and he didn’t look like his old self when he was back on the field. The Chiefs could have easily decided to replace the former seventh-round pick, but they decided to run it back with someone who played a big part in helping Kansas City win a championship in the past.
Pacheco believes that his big problem is that he lost too much weight and was unable to pull off the same aggressive running style he perfected in past seasons. Pacheco is bulking back up this offseason, and he believes that he has all the ingredients he needs to get back on the right track.
“Just going back to 216, 4.37 Isiah Pacheco-style,” the former 900-yard rusher said. If he gets back to what he was, he could give fans some security that he will be able to supplement what Patrick Mahomes and the passing game are putting together.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco back up to 216 pounds after tough 2024 season
If one averages out his first two seasons to a 17-game pace, Pacheco would average 1,173 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. Keep in mind that those numbers came while often sharing carries in a Kansas City offense that wants to throw the ball as much as possible.
Pacheco’s yards per carry fell to 3.7 last season despite playing with the best interior offensive line in the league. With Kingsley Suamataia moving to left guard to replace Joe Thuney, Pacheco could find holes on that side of the field much harder to come by.
Pacheco did suffer a broken leg during the season, which is such a destabilizing injury that it could take a very long time for anyone to come back from it at full strength. One full offseason to get back to full strength might be all Pacheco needs.
If Pacheco plays like he did during his first two seasons, Kansas City’s running attack will have enough baseline competency to alleviate fan concerns that Brett Veach made a tactical error in not finding someone else to add to the RB room.
