Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco took over the starting job after six games in the 2022 season. Pacheco started all three playoff postseason games, including the Super Bowl LVII win over the Philadelphia Eagles. His rushing touchdown in the third quarter began the Chiefs’ comeback.
Pacheco grew up in New Jersey and had to deal with incredible losses to his family when he was in high school.
Dealing With Tragedy as a Teenager
In January 2016, Pacheco was a junior at Vineland (NJ) High School when his older brother, Travoise, was stabbed to death at his apartment. After Travoise’s death, Pacheco told NJ.com that he grew closer to his older sister, Celeste Cannon. He said she worked to keep him humble as his status as a high school football recruit increased.
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Pacheco’s family suffered another devastating loss when Celeste was shot and killed in September 2017. She left behind three young children.
In the game following her death, Pacheco rushed for 217 yards, scored two touchdowns, and passed for another. He told his high school coach, Dan Russo, that he wanted to play to make his sister and family proud.
Pacheco rushed for an 80-yard touchdown against Michigan during his freshman year at Rutgers in 2018. On his way off the field, he blew two kisses to his mother, one in honor of Travoise and one in honor of Celeste.
In 2019 at Rutgers, Pacheco talked to NJ.com about his relationship with his brother: “If he was to see me here, he’d be shocked. He encouraged me to play football as a kid, and he never got the opportunity to see me play here. Having an opportunity to play ball helps me a lot not worrying about the tragedies that happened. It makes me want to go harder.’’
Pacheco has tattoos honoring his brother and sister.
Isiah Pacheco’s Path to the NFL
Pacheco was ranked as the 22nd-best running back prospect by 247Sports and the ninth-best high school player in New Jersey. He played quarterback and defensive back in high school before moving on to Rutgers.
Pacheco rushed for over 2,400 yards and scored 19 touchdowns in 44 games with the Scarlet Knights. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 2021. After the Chiefs selected Pacheco in the seventh round of the 2021 draft, he rushed for more than 800 yards in his first season.
Greg Schiano, Pacheco’s head coach at Rutgers, told the New York Post, “He’s the hardest practice player I’ve ever coached. I’m just so happy for him and his family. He’s worked for every bit of it. He’s overcome a lot. He saw some tragic things. But he’s overcome. He’s got people who love him and care about him, but there’s a lot of history there, too. I’m excited for him. He deserves this. It’s pretty cool.”
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