The Kansas City Chiefs' running game was one of the primary issues last season. They averaged just 106.6 rushing yards per game, the seventh-fewest in the league, and they didn't have a single 1,000-yard rusher, highlighting the need to make some upgrades this offseason.
Veteran running back Isiah Pacheco struggled to stay healthy again, and he failed to make the most of his touches, especially in the final stretch of the field. That's not what one would expect from a running back in a contract year.
That's why, as much as he was a fan favorite at some point, and even though he's likely a cheap pickup — Spotrac projects his market value at just $4.3 million a year — the Chiefs can't ignore all the red flags and just need to cut ties with him.
Isiah Pacheco Is a Walking Red Flag for Chiefs
For starters, Pacheco was never an elite prospect. Yes, he was fun to watch when he punished the ground with every angry step, and he played with a huge chip on his shoulder after entering the league as a seventh-round pick. That said, the numbers never matched the eye test.
Pacheco has never averaged 70 rushing yards per game — his career-high was 66.8 in his second year. He's never had double-digits in touchdowns, and he's averaged under 4.0 yards per carry in two of his four years in the league.
Season | Carries | Yards Per Carry | Yards Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 170 | 4.9 | 48.8 |
2023 | 205 | 4.6 | 66.8 |
2024 | 83 | 3.7 | 44.3 |
2025 | 118 | 3.9 | 35.5 |
Pacheco's second year in the league was an outlier, as he broke 15 tackles (he had four, zero, and two in the other three seasons), scored nine total touchdowns (five, one, and two in the other seasons), and topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage (960, 389, and 563 in the other seasons).
More than that, Pacheco can't seem to stay healthy anymore. He played all 17 games (11 starts) as a rookie, 14 in his second season, seven in the third year, and 13 last season. He doesn't look as explosive anymore, and he's averaged just 1.8 yards after contact per his career. He's not making guys miss, and he's not running them over, either.
If that wasn't bad enough, he's not much of a pass-catcher. He's only logged 200 receiving yards once in his career, and the Chiefs already have rookie Brashard Smith to handle passing-down duties and the two-minute offense. They can also re-sign Kareem Hunt next month, and that's without mentioning the options available through the 2026 NFL draft and free agency.
Running backs tend to fall from grace at a much more frantic pace than other players. They have to block, run, and catch passes, and that type of wear and tear is tough to endure. Pacheco isn't particularly old at 26, but there's a long list of running backs who have failed to keep the momentum once they get to the second contract.
Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is back in Kansas City, and he was there during Pacheco's rookie season, so he might be tempted to see whether he can salvage his career. That said, there's too much at stake for head coach Andy Reid's team in what might probably be Travis Kelce's final season, and they can't afford to commit to an inefficient back who's not a factor in the passing game.
That's why the Chiefs must pay attention to these warning signs, realizing that a split next month will offer the fresh start that both sides need.