Every rookie in the NFL faces a moment where confidence wavers — where the dream feels fragile. For Brashard Smith, that moment came early this season when he fumbled during a preseason game under the lights of Arrowhead Stadium. But before he could hang his head too long, a hand landed on his shoulder.
“Keep your chin up, bro. We’ve all been there,” said Isiah Pacheco.
That moment, small as it seemed, changed everything for Smith. “He didn’t have to say that,” Smith recalled. “He could’ve just walked away. But that’s who Pacheco is — he lifts people.”
Weeks later, Smith has found rhythm and confidence — and much of it, he says, comes from Pacheco’s mentorship. “He’s always teaching,” Smith said. “Not just about plays, but about mindset.”
When asked about Smith’s progress, Pacheco smiled. “That kid’s got fire,” he said. “He reminds me of me — a little rough around the edges, but willing to learn.”
Their relationship has quickly become one of the most inspiring dynamics in Kansas City’s locker room. Coaches have noticed it, too. “Pacheco’s leadership is rubbing off on the young guys,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. “Brashard’s playing looser now. You can see it in how he runs.”
That mentorship has deeper roots than football. Pacheco’s own path — from a seventh-round pick to Super Bowl hero — was paved by players who once encouraged him. “When I was a rookie, vets like Jerick McKinnon and Clyde (Edwards-Helaire) helped me get through it,” he said. “Now it’s my turn to do that for somebody else.”
It’s a full-circle moment that illustrates why Pacheco’s influence extends beyond the stat sheet. His intensity, which fans see on game day, is matched by compassion behind the scenes.
“Pacheco’s the loudest guy on the field and the calmest in the locker room,” Smith said with a laugh. “He’ll yell to pump you up, then talk you down when things get rough.”
For Smith, earning a place in Kansas City’s backfield is about more than proving himself — it’s about honoring the standard that Pacheco and the veterans set. “He tells me every day, ‘Respect the work,’” Smith said. “That’s become my motto.”
Social media has picked up on their bond, with fans calling the duo “Thunder and Spark” for their energetic dynamic. A viral clip from practice showed Pacheco chest-bumping Smith after a touchdown run — the kind of joy that defines the Chiefs’ culture.
“Those moments matter,” Pacheco said. “You remember who believed in you when you didn’t believe in yourself.”
Smith’s confidence has soared since then, earning him snaps and praise from coaches. “He’s taken big steps,” Nagy said. “And that’s credit to how the room supports each other.”
As for Pacheco, he’s not surprised. “You give someone belief, and you watch them grow,” he said. “That’s what this game’s about.”
It’s easy to measure success in yards and touchdowns, but the invisible impact — the mentorship, the trust, the brotherhood — is what makes champions. And that’s the story quietly unfolding between Isiah Pacheco and Brashard Smith.
“Pacheco always says, ‘Play for the guy next to you,’” Smith shared. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”
Follow for more updates as the Chiefs’ backfield continues to build its next generation under Pacheco’s guidance.
