The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN has served as a hub for free agency on television, and news broke on Tuesday surrounding the Detroit Lions' latest signing - a David Montgomery replacement
15:21 ET, 10 Mar 2026Updated 15:21 ET, 10 Mar 2026
Isiah Pacheco won two Super Bowl titles with the Chiefs
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Isiah Pacheco won two Super Bowl titles with the Chiefs(Image: Getty Images)
News of Isiah Pacheco signing with the Detroit Lions broke on The Pat McAfee Show - after an anxious pause for Adam Schefter to deliver the latest.
Earlier this month, the Lions made one of the first key moves of the offseason by agreeing to trade David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. Houston acquired Montgomery in exchange for a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick, while offensive lineman Juice Scruggs was also included in the package going back to Detroit.
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Jahmyr Gibbs dominated alongside Montgomery for three seasons in the Lions' backfield. Now, on Tuesday, the Lions have replaced him in free agency by moving for the former Kansas City Chiefs running back, while Travis Kelce shared Taylor Swift's unique role in his $15 million decision to settle his future.
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On Tuesday, news broke on The Pat McAfee Show that Pacheco was signing with the Lions. ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed the news after receiving a text, eventually declaring that Pacheco will now fill the void left behind by Montgomery.
There was a long pause, however, as McAfee revealed Schefter had received the text but had to wait over a minute for him to post the news on X before the show's production team could flash the post on screens.
The 27-year-old was the Chiefs’ starting running back for much of the past four seasons, winning two Super Bowl titles with the AFC West franchise. However, his fibula injury in the 2024 season hindered his game; in 13 games last season, Pacheco finished with 462 rushing yards and two total touchdowns.
The Chiefs decided to move on from the seventh-round pick. Alongside a deal to bring back Travis Kelce, Kansas City reached an agreement on a deal with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to become its new lead running back.
This opened the door for Pacheco to sign with the Lions. The Chiefs selected Pacheco with the 251st pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and his performances helped him develop into a pivotal member of one of the franchise's most impressive draft classes.
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David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs served as one of the best backfield tandems in the NFL for three seasons
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David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs served as one of the best backfield tandems in the NFL for three seasons(Image: Getty Images)
Midway through his rookie season, Pacheco earned the starting role over Clyde Edwards-Helaire — the Chiefs' first-round pick in 2020. He became a fan favorite through his determined rushing style.
His broken fibula injury, suffered in Week 2 of the 2024 season, forced Pacheco to miss 10 games. He has struggled to be as dynamic and explosive as he was during the 2023 season, when he generated a career-high 935 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns.
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Last season, Pacheco didn't have a single rushing attempt in which he gained 20 or more yards. According to Sharp Football, Pacheco was one of the least efficient backs in the NFL; he ranked 46th out of 49 qualifying running backs in explosive run rate, while he did not have a carry longer than 16 yards.
But paired with a home-run hitter like Gibbs, he could return to his best. In 2025, Gibbs turned 243 carries into 1,223 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns across 17 games. The Lions will hope Pacheco can supply enough power to complement the speed of Gibbs.