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Why Isiah Pacheco is a great fit for the Lions (0:46)
Darius Butler explains what makes Isiah Pacheco a great addition for the Lions on "The Pat McAfee Show." (0:46)
Mar 10, 2026, 01:12 PM ET
The Detroit Lions have agreed to a deal with Isiah Pacheco, giving the team a new running back to pair with Jahmyr Gibbs, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Pacheco will fill the void left when the Lions agreed to trade David Montgomery to the Houston Texans last week.
Pacheco, 27, was the Kansas City Chiefs' starting running back for much of his time in the past four seasons. In 13 games last season, Pacheco finished with 462 rushing yards and two total touchdowns.
Kansas City, however, reached agreement on a deal with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to become its new lead running back.
The Chiefs selected Pacheco with the 251st pick in the 2022 draft. Early during his time in Kansas City, Pacheco developed into a pivotal member of one of the franchise's most impressive draft classes. Midway through his rookie season, Pacheco earned the starting role over Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who was the Chiefs' first-round pick in 2020.
Through his tenacious rushing style, Pacheco helped the Chiefs win two consecutive Super Bowls to help the franchise become the league's newest dynasty.
A turning point in Pacheco's career occurred in Week 2 of the 2024 season. He didn't finish the game after he broke the fibula in his right leg, an injury that forced him to miss 10 games. Since then, he hasn't been as dynamic and explosive as he was during the 2023 season, when he generated a career-high 935 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns.
Last season, Pacheco, who was in the final year of his rookie contract, didn't have a single rushing attempt in which he gained 20 or more yards.
ESPN's Nate Taylor contributed to this report.
