Isiah Pacheco
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After signing with the Lions in free agency, Isiah Pacheco sent Jared Goff a strong message
The Detroit Lions are changing things up this offseason. After missing the playoffs entirely in 2025, the Lions have set out to revamp their team from top to bottom. That has resulted in several key players being shown the exit door, with veteran running back David Montgomery among them.
After Montgomery was traded to the Houston Texans, the Lions knew that they would have to find a new running back to pair up with Jahmyr Gibbs. That led them to Isiah Pacheco in free agency, and after the two-time Super Bowl champion put pen to paper on a one-year, $1.81 million contract with Detroit, he sent his new quarterback, Jared Goff, a strong message.
Isiah Pacheco Issues Bold Guarantee to Jared Goff
A seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Pacheco spent the first four seasons of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He quickly earned the starting job midway through his rookie season, and he would continue to star for the team in 2023 (205 CAR, 935 YDS, 7 TD, 44 REC, 244 YDS, 2 TD). In each of his first two seasons, Pacheco won Super Bowls with the Chiefs.
Over the past two years, though, Pacheco’s production has cratered, thanks in large part to a slew of injury issues. While he suited up in 13 games last season, he picked up just 462 yards and one touchdown on 118 carries. Simply put, Pacheco has appeared to lack the explosiveness that helped him turn into a blossoming star early in his career.
With the Lions, Pacheco will find himself in a unique role, as he’ll be working alongside one of the most dangerous running backs in the league in Gibbs. Serving as more of the power back alongside Gibbs, Pacheco will also likely be used more as a blocker moving forward. If his first message to Goff is anything to go by, though, it sounds like that’s a job he is excited to be taking on.
“I’m on my way here, and Goff text me, he gave me a shout, he’s like, ‘Hey brother, I’m glad to have you a part of the team. I can’t wait to get to work,'” Pacheco said at his press conference on Thursday. “And I’m like, ‘Bro, let’s do it. Let’s set the standard day one. I’m excited to get to work with you, and I just can’t wait to block my a** off for you.'”
Lions Hoping Isiah Pacheco Can Author a Bounce-Back Campaign
Isiah Pacheco Kansas City Chiefs
GettyKANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 14: Isiah Pacheco #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Considering the price tag at which the Lions signed Pacheco, there’s really no risk involved when it comes to bringing him to town. Pacheco has a history of success, and Detroit is hoping that pairing him up alongside Gibbs will help open things up for him on the ground. If his injury woes continue or he simply struggles, the team can move on from him without blinking an eye.
Pacheco sounds intent on carving out a role for himself with the Lions, though, and while fans will be disappointed to see the team’s “Sonic and Knuckles” duo of Gibbs and Montgomery split up, Pacheco could fill right into Montgomery’s role. If all goes according to plan, Pacheco could find himself in a position to earn a nice pay raise at this time next offseason.