Arrowhead Pride
In 2025, Kansas City’s starting running back has only one objective in mind.
Coming into this season, Kansas City Chiefs’ running back Isiah Pacheco has one goal in mind.
“1,000 yards,” he revealed to reporters after practice at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph on Wednesday. “Let’s go get it!”
It’s the same goal he set for himself in 2024. Unfortunately, his season was cut short after he suffered a fractured fibula in the season’s second game. That put his season milestone — which he’s never reached — on ice for another year.
But now, Pacheco believes he is physically (and mentally) prepared to achieve his goal after an offseason effort to bulk up, which he hopes will improve his durability.
“I mentally got with a trainer and ate a lot of food,” he revealed. “I had fun with the family — and enjoyed the moment — but most importantly, took those days where I was able to work and took advantage of it.”
So while he’s concentrated on finding ways to get better, he also understands that things can change in an instant.
“This time last year, I was feeling good,” he reminded his listeners. “[I was] feeling healthy about myself. [But I] went into the season — [and] two games in, got injured.”
But even if the worst happens, Pacheco knows he’ll be able to count on his fellow running backs to pick up the slack.
“We got guys that you can depend on... guys just playing all different roles, having fun with it and just competing.”
Pacheco — himself a product of the draft’s seventh round — has also enjoyed seeing another seventh-round rookie out on the field. Rookie Brashard Smith is in St. Joseph for his first NFL camp.
“I had that similar role when I came in here,” recalled Pacheco, who joined the team in 2022. “It’s [about] finding ways to get better — [if] that’s on the special teams [or] wherever it may be — [and] building a relationship with guys so you could learn a little bit more about them. [But] as far as the game itself, [it’s about] competing.”
As a veteran, Pacheco now appreciates the importance of soaking up the little details — because in the NFL, you never know when your number will be called.
“We might be in a playoff game,” he remarked, “and you might [have taken] that rep in camp. You were that guy that had the backup [role]. Now you’re in because [the starter is] hurt. So just having that mental rep for when the opportunity comes, it sets itself — and you’re prepared for the moment.”
