Isiah Pacheco of the Detroit Lions shared his love of Puerto Rico on Facebook.
His post featured the U.S. and Puerto Rican flags he wears on his helmet. He said, “I know that they’re back home watching and it’s to represent my culture in the NFL.”
Representing Puerto Rico
Isiah Pacheco (born March 2, 1999) is an American running back for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League, nicknamed “Pop” for his energetic running style. He grew up in Vineland, New Jersey, in a Puerto Rican family, starred at Vineland High School as a dual‑threat quarterback and running back, and then played college football at Rutgers, where he became a multi‑year starter and team captain.
Pacheco was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round (251st overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft and quickly outperformed his draft position, winning the starting job mid‑rookie year and helping Kansas City capture Super Bowl LVII with 76 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Eagles. In 2023 he solidified himself as the Chiefs’ top back, posting 935 rushing yards, 244 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns. He scored in each of the first three playoff games as the Chiefs repeated as champions in Super Bowl LVIII, making him the only running back in NFL history to win Super Bowls in each of his first two seasons.
He returned as Kansas City’s starter in 2024 but suffered a fractured fibula in week 2, missed significant time on injured reserve, and finished that season with 310 rushing yards and one touchdown before appearing in a Super Bowl LIX loss to Philadelphia. He went on to join the Detroit Lions in March 2026.
On and off the field he embraces his Puerto Rican identity and has become a fan favorite for his emotional playing style.
Puerto Rican pride
Pacheco displays Puerto Rican pride regularly, carrying or wearing the Puerto Rican flag during Super Bowl celebrations and in Latino Heritage Month content shared by the Chiefs and the NFL. He participated in the NFL’s “Por La Cultura” campaign, where he appears in a “Cross‑Border Pride” spot talking about being “from here, from there” and connecting his NFL success to Puerto Rico and to Latino fans.
Pacheco is one of nine current NFL players of Puerto Rican heritage.
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