Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs.
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The Kansas City Chiefs are letting go of a $4.3 million Super Bowl-winning running back in free agency for 2026.
The NFL free agency period officially kicks off on Wednesday, March 11, but deals are being made now during the league’s “tampering” period. Now, the Kansas City Chiefs have cut ties with a running back who helped them win not one but two Super Bowls.
In free agency, the Chiefs let Isiah Pacheco walk, and he’s already found another home. Pacheco is heading to the Motor City to be a David Montgomery replacement and behind Jahmyr Gibbs on the Detroit Lions‘ roster.
According to Spotrac research, Pacheco’s market value is $4.3 million, and a one-year contract is likely the agreed upon terms. Also, Over the Cap valued his 2025 run at a bit over $1.8 million, so he’s a deal for the Lions. That’s quite a value for a running back that’s been on a Super Bowl-winning team for two years, in 2023 and 2024.
Kansas City Chiefs Player Was Projected to Land Where He Did
As soon as it became obvious Pacheco was leaving Kansas City, there were rumblings that he’d go to the Detroit Lions. In a March 3 piece for KC Kingdom, Andrew Hughes noted that the Lions would be an ideal landing spot.
“The Detroit Lions’ recent blockbuster trade sending David Montgomery to the Houston Texans for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and two draft picks may have provided plenty of clarity on the Pacheco front,” the stated in the piece.
He added, “Detroit had been going back and forth about splitting up Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. It was clear Gibbs wanted Montgomery to stay as his understudy, while Montgomery seemed more open to returning in the weeks leading up to the trade.”
So, it’s certainly not a stretch, and frankly, it’s good that he went to a team that isn’t a direct competitor to the Chiefs.
Travis Kelce is Back With the Kansas City Chiefs, Too
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is here to stay, at least for another year. On Monday, March 9, NFL insider Ian Rapoport announced that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end is expected to return to the team for his 14th NFL season in 2026. A few hours later, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on more details of the deal, stating that the Chiefs are giving Kelce “a one-year, $12 million deal that has a max value of $15 million, per source.”
Kelce wrapped up the 2025 NFL regular season with 76 receptions for 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns over 17 games, according to NFL research, and he averaged 11.2 yards per catch. He was targeted 108 times and had a solid season, although it was off from his peak, of course.
Mahomes responded to the news on Instagram sharing a photo gallery of the two together on the field in Kansas City Chiefs uniforms, in the tunnel together, as well as a photo of them together on the field. He captioned it with the arrowhead and Chiefs emojis.
So, the band isn’t totally back together this season, and that’s always the case. But, at least the team’s lead singer and guitarist, Mahomes and Kelce, are back for another go.