Kansas City Chiefs Rookie Isiah Pacheco Grew Up A Philadelphia Eagles Fan

Having grown up in Vineland, N.J., which is 45 minutes away from Philadelphia, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs working again Isiah Pacheco used to root for the workforce he’ll face in Tremendous Bowl LVII.

“I grew up an Eagles fan,” Pacheco solely shared.

Andy Reid was the Philadelphia Eagles head coach when Pacheco’s sports activities fandom was embedded, and Pacheco passionately rooted for the 2004 squad that took Reid to his first Tremendous Bowl as head coach.

“And now Coach Reid is on the Chiefs and I’m on the Chiefs?” Pacheco mentioned. “To have the ability to be part of this … I’m really blessed.”

Pacheco’s roots are one more connection — together with the Kelce brothers and Reid — between Philadelphia and Kansas Metropolis within the compelling Tremendous Bowl LVII matchup.

Dick Vermeil guided each groups to the playoffs and served as a sounding board when Reid thought of pursuing the Chiefs’ job. Whether or not it’s president Mark Donovan, basic supervisor Brett Veach or vice chairman of sports activities drugs and efficiency Rick Burkholder, many key Chiefs figures used to work for the Eagles.

“It’s not less than 15 of us right here which were a part of that group,” mentioned Chiefs working backs coach Greg Lewis. “It’s bizarre. You not often see that. After which to be within the Tremendous Bowl going in opposition to them, I imply, it’s going to be an ideal expertise.”

Lewis performed huge receiver for the Eagles from 2003 to 2008, and the next 12 months, the Eagles drafted LeSean McCoy, the working again Pacheco grew up idolizing.

“That’s my man,” Pacheco mentioned.

Like McCoy, who later performed for the Chiefs, the rookie Pacheco might be turn out to be an explosive backfield presence for years to come back.

“Once we discuss NFL working backs,” mentioned Chiefs working again Jerick McKinnon, “I imagine he’s going to be one of many faces of the longer term.”

The 23-year-old Pacheco rushed for 830 yards regardless of not beginning till Week Seven. That speeding whole ranked fourth amongst all NFL rookies.

They usually have been highly effective yards. Pacheco runs aggressively together with his legs churning so onerous that it nearly appears to be like he’s inflicting ache upon the bottom.

“He’s a canine, man,” McKinnon mentioned. “Each time he touches the ball, he’s electrical with it.”

Pacheco added a couple of volts to his recreation for his first postseason, catching 5 passes for 59 yards within the AFC Championship Recreation and speeding for 95 yards within the divisional spherical, together with a season-best 39-yard gain.

On that run he initially focused a lane between proper guard and proper deal with earlier than bouncing it exterior. After reaching the Jacksonville Jaguars’ three-yard-line, he then pounded his chest in celebration.

“He’s that energizer bunny man,” Reid mentioned. “He’s obtained countless power.”

Pacheco additionally represents wonderful worth.

As a result of he’s on a rookie deal allotted to a 2022 seventh-round draft decide, he’s solely making $784,000 this season within the first 12 months of his four-year contract.

That’s essential for a workforce just like the Chiefs, who’ve some huge cash tied up in a few elite gamers. Chris Jones and Patrick Mahomes mixed for a cap hit of about $60 million (or about 30% of their cap) in 2022.

Pacheco’s discount fee is simply a part of his unbelievable story. He’s gone from seventh-round draft decide to beginning in Tremendous Bowl LVII as a rookie.

He mirrored on that as he ready to depart Kansas Metropolis for Arizona, the positioning of the massive recreation.

“All of it hit me,” he mentioned. “I needed to take a break from packing my baggage and actually soak all of it in.”

He was so moved that he referred to as his dad and mom to debate this particular second.

13 of these members of the family and mates will probably be coming to Tremendous Bowl LVII.

“A few of them grew up Eagles followers,” he joked. “However we’re not going for the Eagles (on Sunday).”