The Kansas City Chiefs' 2025 campaign hasn't gone as expected, to say the least. In Week 14, they lost 20-10 at home to the Houston Texans, falling back under .500 with less than a month to go before the playoffs.
This loss was the Chiefs' fourth in the past five games, as several players have continued to falter during the most important time of the 2025 season. And one of those guys was running back Isiah Pacheco. In the contest against the Texans, Pacheco had nine carries for 30 rushing yards, marking the seventh time in 10 games he's failed to hit the 50-yard mark while continuing to show that he isn't the same player that he once was.
This outing was just another example of Pacheco's lackluster play, and gives general manager Brett Veach another reason to let him walk in free agency.
Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco Is Playing His Way Out of Kansas City
Pacheco doesn't have the same burst and vision that he's had in the past. He even ran into the back of his linemen against Houston for a three-yard gain (h/t @ShannonSharpe). This season, he missed time due to a sprained MCL, continuing his trend of missing games for the third straight year. Despite being consistently involved in the offense, he isn't doing anything with it.
In 2025, Pacheco ranks third on the team in rushing yards (375), trailing both Mahomes (407) and Kareem Hunt (545). The 26-year-old has only led the team in rushing times four times this season, failing to log more than 58 rushing yards so far. No matter how you slice it, that isn't RB1-like production.
Earlier in the year, there were rumors that the Chiefs didn't want to offer a third-round pick to the New York Jets for running back Breece Hall. It's obvious now that sitting on idle hands was a mistake. Pacheco hasn't done anything but prove he shouldn't be back in Kansas City for the 2026 season or beyond.
The Chiefs' offense needs some reshuffling, and the running back position will be one of those areas. The fact that Mahomes is second on the team in rushing yards and has led the team in rushing in four games this season, including the loss to Houston, is a huge problem.
The rushing attack needs more juice, and unfortunately, it appears that Pacheco can't provide that. Fans in the KC Kingdom seem to over him and are annoyed that he still gets carries. The Chiefs have no room for error and still need help if they want to make the playoffs. But based on how things have looked, the next four weeks will be the last games that Pacheco will be a Chief, as he's slated to hit free agency in March.
For a team that needs to reshape its roster in the offseason, Pacheco should be one of the first players that get the boot out of Chiefs Kingdom.