Pacheco’s Dan Campbell impression steals the show at Lions press conference

The Detroit Lions added a new running back this week, and Isiah Pacheco brought a whole lot of personality. The former Kansas City Chiefs back, fresh off signing as an unrestricted free agent, gave fans a peek at his energy and sense of humor during his introductory press conference Thursday.

"Ahhh, let’s go!" - Pacheco’s hilarious first conversation wih Dan Campbell

When asked about his first conversation with Lions head coach Dan Campbell, Pacheco couldn’t help but laugh. “Ah, man, our first conversation, I was screaming on the phone‚” he said. “‘Ahhh, let’s f***in’ go! I’m ready to go! Put me in!’”

Then, turning the tables, Pacheco shifted into a perfect Campbell impression, cracking up reporters in the room:

“He’s like, ‘Oh, yeah, Pacheco, what number are you going? Are you going with 10?’”

It was a lighthearted moment, but one that also showed Pacheco’s enthusiasm for his new chapter in Detroit.

A fresh start in Detroit

Pacheco, 27, has had a tumultuous couple of seasons. Drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Rutgers, he was a key contributor to the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl championships. In his first two seasons, he led Kansas City in rushing with 830 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie, then 935 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023.

However, injuries slowed him down. A fibula fracture in September 2024 and an MCL sprain last October limited him to 462 yards and a single touchdown across 13 games last season.

Now, Pacheco sees an opportunity to reclaim the version of himself that earned the nickname “Pop” for his smashmouth running style. Detroit, he said, was “the first place that I thought of” after the Chiefs went in a different direction, signing Kenneth Walker III.

Filling big shoes in the Lions backfield

The Lions traded David Montgomery to the Texans earlier this week, creating space for Pacheco to complement Jahmyr Gibbs, the team’s undisputed featured back. Montgomery, Gibbs, and Lions legends like Barry Sanders, Billy Sims, and Dutch Clark are the only players in franchise history to surpass 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns, highlighting the big role Pacheco may play as a complementary weapon.

While Gibbs will handle the bulk of the touches, Pacheco’s physicality and experience bring depth and a new dynamic to the Detroit backfield. His energy, already evident in his Campbell impression, could also help inject enthusiasm into the locker room.

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