Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is approaching this offseason with a different mindset. While some players focus on slimming down to stay quick and lean, Pacheco is doing the opposite: adding weight to better withstand the physical toll of NFL seasons.
“Just going through injuries, I wanted to gain weight and be a little heavier,” Pacheco told reporters on Thursday. “To surpass and get better — and build off of this past year on the field.”
Last season, the fourth-year back fractured his fibula in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals, missing nine games on the team’s Reserve/Injured list. While he eventually returned, he admitted he never quite felt like himself — something he attributes to losing his ideal playing weight during his rehab.
Pacheco, who is currently listed at 216 pounds on the Chiefs’ official website, didn’t want to reveal a specific target weight. But his added bulk hasn’t gone unnoticed by head coach Andy Reid.
“Physically, he looks real good,” Reid said. “He’s put on a couple pounds of good weight. He’d gotten himself down there a little bit last year and leaned up, but I think he looks tremendous right now.”
This offseason marks the first in Pacheco’s young career that he isn’t preparing to defend a Super Bowl title. That alone has served as fuel to work on his body — especially after returning home to his roots.
“I use it as a big motivation for me,” Pacheco explained. “I’m from Jersey, so I went back home and worked out at the gym where I started at the YMCA. I started reminiscing. You’ve got people from New Jersey wearing Eagles hats all the time. They’ll question me like, ‘Wow, you’re in here. We got you all this year.’ So that right there only motivates you to go harder.”
Now entering the season healthy, stronger, and mentally locked in, Pacheco is aiming to reestablish himself as a vital piece of Kansas City’s offense.
“I feel great,” Pacheco said. “I’ll say my mental toughness is good and my physical toughness is awesome. I’m just happy.”
