Detroit Lions signing Isiah Pacheco to pair with Jahmyr Gibbs

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Detroit Lions fans can rest a little easier knowing their Sonic will have another Knuckles in 2026.

Running back Isiah Pacheco and the Lions have agreed on a deal to bring the former Kansas City Chiefs starter to Detroit, a person close to the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon. The person spoke on a condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet official.

Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

Detroit's offense will look different in 2026 under new coordinator Drew Petzing. The Lions traded for interior offensive lineman Juice Scruggs from the Houston Texans and sent running back David Montgomery to Houston in the deal. They then agreed to a deal with center Cade Mays during the first day of the free agency negotiating period.

The Chiefs are also overhauling their running back room and decided against retaining Pacheco in favor of signing reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III.

Kansas City drafted Pacheco in the seventh round, No. 251 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Rutgers. He led the team in rushing as a rookie as the Chiefs won Super Bowl 57 38-35 over the Philadelphia Eagles. He scored the opening touchdown of the second half of that game.

Pacheco led the Chiefs in rushing yards (935) and touchdowns (seven) again in 2023 as Kansas City won another Super Bowl title.

Injuries affected his 2024 and 2025 seasons with a fractured fibula and knee injury, respectively.

Pacheco will complement the Lions' star running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the Detroit backfield. Montgomery offered a powerful running style compared to Gibbs' game-breaking speed in the open field. Pacheco offers a similar skillset to Montgomery but is two years younger.

This story will be updated with more information when available.