At first glance, Isiah Pacheco looks every bit the modern NFL running back — explosive, confident, and impossible to tackle on first contact. But beneath the visor and the muscle, there’s a leader quietly shaping the Kansas City Chiefs’ locker room in ways stats can’t measure.
This week, Pacheco gave the football world a glimpse of that leadership when he spoke about two fellow running backs: Brashard Smith, a rookie chasing his dream, and Kareem Hunt, a veteran chasing redemption. His words weren’t rehearsed, and that’s what made them powerful.
“Those guys inspire me,” Pacheco said after Thursday’s practice. “Brashard’s hungry, Kareem’s been through it and come back stronger — that’s the kind of energy that pushes you to keep going.”
The comments came during a week when Kansas City’s backfield has been under scrutiny. Smith has been working to earn more reps, while Hunt’s name has floated through trade speculation after Cleveland’s backfield reshuffling. Through it all, Pacheco stayed focused on what matters most: respect.
“Brashard reminds me of me — late nights, long practices, trying to prove you belong,” he said. “I see that fire in him. And I know what it feels like to fight for every carry.”
Those words landed heavily in the locker room. Smith later told reporters that Pacheco’s mentorship has been “a game changer.” “He doesn’t act like he’s above anyone,” Smith said. “He talks to you man to man. He’s always got advice.”
Leadership in the NFL isn’t always loud. It’s not always about speeches or team meetings. Often, it’s what happens in between — a quick word after a dropped pass, a pat on the back after a fumble, or an extra drill when no cameras are around. Pacheco lives that kind of leadership.
“I’ve been the guy at the bottom of the depth chart,” he said. “That never leaves you. So when I see someone grinding for a spot, I’m gonna lift him up.”
His connection with Kareem Hunt, meanwhile, speaks to something deeper — a respect for the past and the lessons it carries. Pacheco grew up watching Hunt dominate for the Chiefs before off-field issues ended his time in Kansas City. “Kareem’s story is real,” he said. “He made a mistake, owned it, and kept working. That’s something to respect.”
Fans have rallied behind Pacheco’s words. “He’s got the heart of a captain,” one fan wrote on social media. “Not just a baller — a builder.” It’s hard to disagree.
Head coach Andy Reid has seen this side of Pacheco develop since his rookie year. “He’s emotional in the best way,” Reid said. “He cares about the team, about the guys around him. That’s contagious.”
Teammates echo that sentiment. Veteran lineman Joe Thuney said Pacheco’s voice “carries weight” because he leads by example. “He’s the first to the weight room, last to leave the field. That’s how you earn respect.”
Leadership, for Pacheco, isn’t about hierarchy — it’s about humanity. “We’re all chasing the same dream,” he said. “I just try to remind the guys that we’re stronger together.”
The Chiefs have built a dynasty on that mindset — selflessness and unity. As they march toward another postseason run, it’s players like Pacheco who keep that culture alive.
“It’s not just about winning games,” he said. “It’s about helping the next man win in life.”
That’s not something you often hear from a 25-year-old in the NFL spotlight. But then again, Pacheco’s never been the typical player. His story — from Vineland, New Jersey, to Super Bowl champion — has been defined by grit, gratitude, and giving back.
When the lights fade and the noise quiets, that’s the version of Isiah Pacheco that teammates see: the mentor, the motivator, the man who knows every practice rep means something more.
As for what’s next, Pacheco says it’s simple: “Keep getting better, and keep lifting others with me.”
