Isiah “Pop” Pacheco

📍 Hometown: Vineland, New Jersey
🎓 College: Rutgers University
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family: Youngest of five, son to Felicia Cannon and Julio Pacheco. Tragically lost his brother Travoise (2016) and sister Celeste (2017), and honors them through tattoos and dedication to family
📅 Drafted: 2022 – 7th Round, 251st overall by the Kansas City Chiefs

📘 Player Bio

Born on March 2, 1999, in Vineland, NJ, Isiah Pacheco (aka “Pop”) emerged as a two-way football standout at Vineland High and Pop Warner. He committed to Rutgers, where he became a trusted leader, culminating in a team captain role in 2021. He rushed for over 2,400 yards and 18 TDs in college—including a standout freshman year opener (156 yards, 4 TDs vs. UMass).

Despite his college success, he fell to the 7th round in the 2022 draft—but quickly proved his value. As a rookie, he rushed for 830 yards, added 130 receiving yards, scored in Super Bowl LVII, and helped Kansas City to a title. He followed up with a 935-yard season in 2023 and another Super Bowl win (LVIII), becoming the first RB ever to win championships in his first two seasons.

Off the field, Pacheco has shown heart. He completed his Rutgers degree online in 2025, becoming his family’s first college graduate:

He uses this achievement to inspire others—especially his nieces, from whom he even learned touchdown dances on TikTok.

❤️ Family, Loss, and Legacy

Isiah Pacheco’s journey to the NFL has always been fueled by something bigger than football—family. As the youngest of five children, “Pop” was raised in Vineland, New Jersey by his mother, Felicia Cannon. His siblings were his world growing up, and his identity is shaped by both the love he’s carried with him and the grief he’s endured.

In 2016, his older brother Travoise was tragically stabbed and killed. Just a year later, his older sister Celeste passed away due to complications during a hospital stay. Pacheco was just a teenager at the time—still in high school, still trying to make sense of his dreams—but their deaths forever altered his sense of purpose. Rather than break him, it became his fire. “They made me who I am,” he’s said in interviews. “I play for them.”

Pacheco honors Travoise and Celeste with multiple tattoos—one on each arm representing their names and birthdates, and another over his heart that reads “Family Over Everything.” On his left shoulder, an angel with outstretched wings holds a banner with their names, symbolizing protection. He’s also said that every time he touches the field, he feels their presence with him.

Despite the heartbreak, Pacheco’s bond with the rest of his family remains unshakable. He frequently mentions his mother as his inspiration, wears a necklace with her initials during warmups, and stays actively involved in the lives of his nieces and nephews—including mentoring Celeste’s son. His love for them shows up not just in his words, but in his actions—like helping them with schoolwork, FaceTiming after games, and even borrowing their TikTok dance moves for his touchdown celebrations.

Through loss, Pacheco has found strength. And through football, he’s found a way to carry his family forward—with every yard, every touchdown, and every defiant step on the field.

🤝 Did You Know?

• Pacheco ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine—tied for the fastest among all running backs in 2022 🏃‍♂️💨

• He chose Rutgers over offers from Syracuse, Maryland, and Pitt, wanting to stay close to home and make a difference in New Jersey.

📊 Key Stat

In the 2023 playoffs, Pacheco averaged 93 rushing yards per game, the most of any running back that postseason.
He tallied 3 touchdowns across 3 playoff games, including one in the Super Bowl—a true playoff workhorse 🏆

🗣️ Quote of the Week

📱 Follow Isiah Pacheco

• Instagram: @lil_poppy856

• X (Twitter): @isiah_pachecoRB

💌 Enjoying The Daily Chief?

If you’re loving this mix of football facts and Chiefs fandom, consider forwarding it to another diehard—or even a newbie looking to learn. The Kingdom is stronger when we share the love 🏹💬