Isiah Pacheco owns two Super Bowl rings he won with Kansas City and has enjoyed a lot of success in his first four seasons in the league. After signing a one-year contract with Detroit Thursday, Pacheco said he's still hungrier than ever to make his mark in Detroit and be part of a winning formula for the Lions.
Pacheco was animated and excited Thursday talking about his phone call with Lions head coach Dan Campbell after he agreed to sign with Detroit. He said Detroit was his No. 1 destination once leaving Kansas City became a reality.
View photos of newly-signed Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) rushes during an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) rushes for yardage against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs onto the field prior to the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. The Eagles defeated the Chiefs, 40-22. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco carries the ball against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco runs for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) carries the ball during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco carries the ball for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann),
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs up field past Houston Texans defensive end Denico Autry (96) during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs for a first down as a host of Chicago Bears defend during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco carries the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco runs against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs a route during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) carries the ball during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco carries the ball for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann),
"Knowing the mentality and the aggression I bring ... the staff here and the Ford family believed in me and gave me the opportunity to give 110 percent here and I'm going to show you all that the real (No.) 10 is back," Pacheco said.
A seventh-round pick by the Chiefs in 2022, Pacheco rushed for 830 yards as a rookie, averaging 4.9 yards with five touchdowns. He followed that up in 2023 averaging 4.6 yards per carry on 935 total rushing yards with seven rushing touchdowns while catching 44 passes that season. The Chiefs won back-to-back Super Bowl titles in Pacheco's first two seasons in the league.
He experienced a dip in his numbers the past two seasons, serving a more complementary role in the Chiefs' backfield alongside Kareem Hunt. He suffered a fractured fibula in 2024 that limited him to just seven games that season and admitted Thursday it's been a longer road back to himself than he thought following the injury.
Pacheco will join Jahmyr Gibbs, one of the best young running backs in the NFL, in Detroit's backfield. Pacheco said he's admired Gibbs' game from afar the last few years and is excited to join him as a formidable new duo in Detroit.
"Whatever I can do to contribute to the team is going to happen," Pacheco said. "I'm going to bring excitement to the team and leadership and accountability. I'm a two-time champ, but I'm not satisfied, though. I'm hungrier than I ever was and I'm ready to get to work."
In Pacheco (5-10, 216), Detroit gets a strong, physical back who seems to invite contact with his opponents. Pacheco had 462 yards rushing with one touchdown last season and averaged 3.9 yards per carry while appearing in 13 games.
