Kansas City Chiefs rookie RB Isiah Pacheco has an admirer.
That admirer also happens to be one of the greatest running backs in franchise history. Speaking to former Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles as he promotes his new collaboration with Bud Light, I asked him to share his thoughts on Kansas City’s dynamic seventh-round rookie.
Specifically, I wanted to know if Charles thought that Pacheco could have a similar level of on-field success as he had during his career.
“Oh, yeah, I think he definitely can,” Charles said. “That’s what Coach Reid looks for, he looks for people that can come impact the game. It don’t matter how young you are, it don’t matter how old. If you’re young, he’ll put you right in and make you shine. So he’ll make you for where he feels like he can put you in a space to make you a better person, to make your game come out more. And that’s what (Eric) Bieniemy does (as well). They do a great job mentoring. Isiah (Pacheco), right now, in particular, they do a great job of just letting him shine. (They) let him be him.”
It’s quite the compliment coming from Charles, who boasts the most efficient yard-per-carry mark (5.4) in NFL history.
The thing that has most impressed Charles about Pacheco is his ability to come in and contribute right away. As a rookie back in 2008, Charles appeared in all 16 games and had 67 carries for just over 350 yards. Pacheco had 17 games played and over twice as many starts as a rookie, recording 170 carries for 830 yards.
“I like (Isiah Pacheco) because you might say most offenses don’t rely on the young guys to come in and play like that,” Charles said. “But Pacheco, he has been having a lot of great success, like he’s been doing this season. So I’m just happy for him. I hope he can have a career like me. If he has a career like me, I know the Chiefs could definitely win a Super Bowl. So, I wish all the best for him.”
It clearly brings Charles a great deal of joy to see that young man succeed in Kansas City. And with the biggest game of his young career on the horizon, it’s clear that Charles is hoping that success continues for Pacheco come Sunday.
