The Detroit Lions broke up the "Sonic and Knuckles" duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery this offseason. The Lions traded Montgomery to the Houston Texans in exchange for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a 2026 fourth-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
With the team missing a bruising running back, the Lions filled the void by signing former Kansas City Chiefs rusher Isiah Pacheco to a one-year, $1.81 million contract.
If you wanted any further proof that Pacheco was a solid addition this offseason, look no further than his introductory press conference.
On Thursday, Pacheco detailed his phone call with Lions head coach Dan Campbell. Pacheco was excited when repeating what he told Campbell, and fans can see why the Lions decided to sign him in free agency.
Isiah Pacheco and Dan Campbell match each other's energy 😂🔋 pic.twitter.com/fa7MeVgubH
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) March 12, 2026
"Oh man our first conversation I was screaming on the phone, 'Ahhh let's f***ing go! I'm ready to go! Put me in,'" said Pacheco. "He's like 'Oh yeah Pacheco what number are you going? Are you going with 10?' 'You're f***ing right! Let's go! I'm on my way, I'm coming home!' So that was the whole adrenaline during the call and I just couldn't thank them enough for just thinking of me."
Isiah Pacheco excitedly reveals details of first phone call with Dan Campbell
Yeah, Pacheco will fit in perfectly with the Lions. Pacheco was stoked to sign on with the Lions for the next chapter of his career.
Pacheco revealed in that same clip that he had multiple offers from other teams, including the Chiefs. But considering Kansas City made the big move to sign former Seattle Seahawks star and Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker, Pacheco knew his role on the team was gone, so he decided to move on to another team. He ultimately landed on the Lions.
"There were a lot of teams, I had eight opportunities to go to different teams. Kansas City was one of them. Once they made [the Kenneth Walker signing] I knew I had to look forward to opening up the doors to go somewhere else, and this was the first place I thought of," said Pacheco.
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Pacheco, a New Jersey native, joined the Chiefs as a seventh-round pick out of Rutgers. Pacheco played his way into becoming the Chiefs' starting running back as a rookie, rushing for 830 yards and five touchdowns on 170 carries. The following season, Pacheco ran for 935 yards and seven touchdowns on 205 carries. In those first two years, Pacheco won a Super Bowl title.
But Pacheco dealt with injuries the past couple of seasons. In 2024, he was limited to just seven games due to a fractured fibula. Last season, Pacheco was limited to 13 games due to a knee injury.
Overall, Pacheco has 2,537 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns to his credit on 576 carries.
Pacheco does fill the role of the violent runner that the Lions traded away in Montgomery. There's no secret that Gibbs will be the bellcow of the rushing attack, given his speed. On a one-year deal, Pacheco has the chance to prove he can fill the role left by Montgomery for the foreseeable future.