After agreeing to trade running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, the Detroit Lions have now found his replacement in former Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, the Daily Mail can confirm.
The deal, which cannot become official until Wednesday at 4pm EST, was first reported by ESPN.
Pacheco, 27, has battled injury problems over the last two seasons after leading Kansas City in running yards en route to Super Bowl LVII and LVIII victories. He now steps in behind Lions starter and three-time Pro Bowl selection Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit’s backfield.
Contract details were not immediately available. The Daily Mail has requested further details from the Lions and Pacheco’s agent.
The Rutgers product has 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns on 576 carries over his career. Pacheco has also added another 554 yards and three touchdowns on 88 catches.
Montgomery, the 230-pound bruiser who played with Gibbs over the last three seasons in Detroit, is coming off a 716-yardseason for the Lions, who were just 9-8 last season.
Isiah Pacheco (10) loses his helmet as he is tackled by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) and defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) and cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) in 2023
The Detroit Lions recently traded star David Montgomery to the Houston Texans
Gibbs remains the featured back for the Lions after being taken in the first round in 2023
Meanwhile, Gibbs has taken off since entering the NFL as the Lions’ first-round pick in 2023.
The 23-year-old had 1,412 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, which led the NFL, in 2024.
He followed that up with 1,223 yards and 13 rushing scores, with a career-high 616 receiving yards last season.
Montgomery is under contract for two more seasons at a combined base salary of $13 million, after signing a two-year extension in October 2024.