On March 10, 2026, the Detroit Lions made a significant move to reshape their backfield, agreeing to a one-year deal with former Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco. The signing comes just days after the Lions traded David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, leaving a notable vacancy alongside star rusher Jahmyr Gibbs. Now, Pacheco—known for his fierce, punishing running style—steps in as the newest weapon in Detroit’s ground attack, aiming to revitalize his career after a string of injuries and declining production.
Pacheco, who turned 27 this March, arrives in Detroit with a resume that’s both impressive and somewhat checkered by recent setbacks. Drafted in the seventh round by Kansas City in 2022, he quickly ascended to the starting role, overtaking first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire midway through his rookie campaign. In that first season, he tallied 830 rushing yards and five touchdowns, helping the Chiefs clinch a Super Bowl title. The following year, Pacheco put up a career-best 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, plus 44 receptions for 244 yards and two more scores, as Kansas City repeated as champions.
But the trajectory shifted in 2024. Early in Week 2, Pacheco fractured his right fibula, forcing him to miss 10 games. He returned later in the season, but struggled to regain his previous explosiveness, finishing with 310 yards and a single touchdown on 83 carries across seven appearances. Injuries continued to plague him in 2025, as he suffered a right knee injury in Week 8, missed a month, and returned in late November. In total, Pacheco appeared in just 20 games over the past two years, a far cry from his ironman form as a rookie and sophomore.
Last season, the former Rutgers standout logged 462 rushing yards and one touchdown on 118 carries, averaging just 3.9 yards per attempt over 13 games. He also failed to break a single run longer than 16 yards and was one of only four NFL backs with at least 100 carries who didn’t notch a 20-plus-yard gain. According to Sharp Football and Next Gen Stats, Pacheco ranked near the bottom of the league in explosive run rate and yards above expected, forcing just 13 missed tackles—second to last among qualified backs. Pro Football Focus graded him the second lowest among 58 running backs in 2025.
Despite these struggles, Detroit’s front office and coaching staff see value in Pacheco’s hard-nosed approach. He brings an intensity and willingness to absorb contact that fits the Lions’ evolving, gap-based downhill running scheme under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. As The Athletic noted, “His game fits a gap-based, downhill scheme the Lions seem to be moving toward under Drew Petzing. His skills complement Jahmyr Gibbs’ well, making it easy to see the vision on paper.”
With Montgomery gone—reportedly unhappy with his role after posting career-lows in yards and attempts—the Lions needed a physical presence to handle tough carries and serve as an insurance policy behind Gibbs. While Pacheco may not match Montgomery’s vision or elusiveness, he can pick up tough yards between the tackles and handle some of the goal-line duties that Montgomery excelled at. He also arrives with less mileage, having logged about 900 fewer carries than Montgomery, who enters his eighth NFL season.
Pacheco’s arrival comes during a busy stretch for Detroit’s front office. In addition to the running back swap, the Lions have added offensive linemen Cade Mays and Larry Borom, shoring up the protection in front of their new-look backfield. However, the team has also lost several contributors in free agency, including linebacker Alex Anzalone, cornerback Amik Robertson, defensive tackle Roy Lopez, backup quarterback Kyle Allen, and receiver Kalif Raymond. The Lions’ running back depth chart now features Gibbs, Pacheco, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors, and Jabari Small—though the latter three have just nine career rushing attempts between them. The expectation is that Gibbs, a three-time Pro Bowler who topped 1,200 rushing yards last season, will remain the lead back, with Pacheco slotting in as the clear No. 2 option.
It’s worth noting that neither the Montgomery trade nor the Pacheco signing could become official until the NFL’s new league year opened at 4 p.m. on March 11, 2026. As of now, both moves are expected to be finalized without complications.
For Pacheco, the move to Detroit represents a fresh start and an opportunity to prove he can still be a difference-maker in the NFL. He’s just four years removed from being a late-round draft steal and a key piece of two Super Bowl-winning squads. Yet, the numbers paint a picture of a player whose best days may be behind him—at least statistically. In 51 regular season games, he’s racked up 2,537 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, plus 547 yards and four scores in 10 playoff outings. But the past two seasons have seen a marked decline in his breakaway speed and efficiency, as noted by both league analytics and film analysts.
Still, there’s optimism in the Motor City. The Lions have ranked among the NFL’s top rushing teams in recent years, finishing fifth and sixth in 2023 and 2024, though they slipped to 14th last season. If Pacheco can regain even a portion of his early-career form, he could provide the thunder to Gibbs’ lightning and help Detroit reestablish its ground dominance. As one league source told UPI, “Pacheco is expected to play a complementary role for the Lions, replacing David Montgomery as star running back Jahmyr Gibbs’ backfield sidekick.”
There’s no denying the risk. Pacheco’s violent running style, while exciting, has contributed to a variety of ailments—broken fibula, rib injuries, and most recently, an MCL sprain. His ability to stay healthy and regain his trademark burst will be critical to his success in Detroit. Yet, his energy and toughness are exactly what head coach Dan Campbell values in his players. If Pacheco can tap back into his rookie and sophomore form, the Lions may have found a bargain in free agency.
As the NFL’s new league year kicks off, all eyes in Detroit are on their revamped backfield. With Jahmyr Gibbs poised for a contract extension and Pacheco hungry for redemption, the Lions are betting that a blend of youth, power, and determination will fuel their playoff ambitions. Only time will tell if this gamble pays off, but one thing’s for sure: the Motor City backfield just got a lot more interesting.