Isiah Pacheco signs with Detroit Lions to pair with Jahmyr Gibbs after Kansas City Chiefs departure
Isiah Pacheco's arrival adds championship experience to a Detroit Lions roster hungry for success.
The Detroit Lions have bolstered their backfield by agreeing to terms with former Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. This move comes shortly after the team traded David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, addressing a key need behind star Jahmyr Gibbs.
Pacheco, 27, joins Detroit as a physical, proven runner ready to complement Gibbs' explosive style. Notably, the agreement is set to become official at the start of the new league year.
Filling the David Montgomery void
The Detroit Lions parted ways with David Montgomery last week in a trade to the Houston Texans that brought back offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and draft picks. Montgomery had been a reliable power back, but the front office sought fresh options to keep the ground game strong.
Isiah Pacheco steps into that role as a tough, tenacious runner. Drafted by the Chiefs in the seventh round (251st overall) in 2022, he quickly rose to prominence. He took over as a starter midway through his rookie year, outpacing former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
His approach helped Kansas City secure two straight Super Bowl titles, cementing the franchise as a modern dynasty. Pacheco contributed in big moments, bringing grit to the Chiefs' offense alongside Patrick Mahomes.
Injury challenges and recent form
Isiah Pacheco's career hit a snag in Week 2 of the 2024 season when he suffered a broken fibula in his right leg. The injury sidelined him for 10 games and impacted his explosiveness upon return.
In 2025, across 13 games, he recorded 462 rushing yards and two total touchdowns. He lacked any rushes of 20+ yards, a drop from his 2023 peak of 935 yards and nine touchdowns.
Despite the dip, Pacheco's physical running style remains appealing. Analysts see him as a strong fit in Detroit's scheme, providing a change-of-pace option to Gibbs while handling early-down work.
A fresh start in Detroit Lions
Leaving Kansas City after the Chiefs signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III as their new lead back opened the door for Pacheco. Detroit's aggressive offseason moves show commitment to staying competitive in the NFC North.
Pairing Pacheco with Gibbs creates a versatile duo, one dynamic and elusive, the other bruising and reliable. This could keep defenses guessing and support quarterback Jared Goff's play-action game.
Pacheco's arrival adds championship experience to a Lions roster hungry for success.
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
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