Category: Knights in the NFL

Kansas City Chiefs Isiah Pacheco on a rivalry with the 49ers Christian McCaffrey: ‘We’re going to let the pads do the talking’

Isiah Pacheco talks about competing against Christian McCaffrey.

During the Super Bowl Opening Night event, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was asked about Sunday’s duel with Christian McCaffrey. But Pacheco, a former star running back at Rutgers, was not going to start a war with McCaffrey, the San Francisco 49ers running back.

Pacheco, a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Rutgers, is having a solid second season in the league. He continues to show the hard running style from his time at Rutgers with 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

He has rushing touchdowns in all three NFL playoff games to help the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl.

Now, as to Pacheco looking to prove himself against McCaffrey. It wasn’t a loaded question or even a leading one that came from the media during the Super Bowl Opening Night event. But it was clear that Pacheco wasn’t going to take any kind of bait and say something that could land on the 49ers bulletin board.

Do bulletin boards still exist?

Pacheco was asked about facing McCaffrey and if he wants to “outdo” the 49ers star. McCaffrey led the NFL in rushing this season.

“Like I said, leave it all out there on the field,” Pacheco told reporters (h/t to Vegas Sports Today).

“We’re going to let the pads do the talking.”

In terms of facing the league’s best and most accomplished running back, Pacheco didn’t make it about himself. He said that the chance to go

“It’s competition, like i said before, we love competing

“Looking at one another, always competing. It’s game time.”

Pacheco was asked an interesting question about what NFL running backs he looked up to and modeled his game after. Earlier in the week, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid compared Pacheco to 49ers running back Roger Craig.

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Winner of three Super Bowls and named to the Pro Bowl four times, Craig was one of the best running backs in the NFL during the 1980s.

Pacheco, when asked who he styled his game after, was blunt in his response.

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“None of them,” Pacheco said matter of factly.

 

New York Giants added former Rutgers coach Zak Kuhr to their coaching staff

The New York Giants promoted three coaches and added two newcomers to their staff. One of the newcomers is former Rutgers coach Zak Kuhr.

On Wednesday, the New York Giants promoted three coaches and added two newcomers to their coaching staff. One of the two newcomers is former Rutgers football assistant coach Zak Kuhr.

Kuhr will serve as a defensive assistant. He has coaching experience on both sides of the ball including on offense during his time at Rutgers.

Kuhr coached the running backs for the Scarlet Knights in 2016 under then head coach Chris Ash. Following that season, he joined the Texas State staff. The Scarlet Knights finished the 2016 season with a 2-10 record and were 0-9 in the Big Ten.

While with the Scarlet Knights, Kuhr was part of a Rutgers offense that averaged 15.7 points per game.

Robert Martin led Rutgers with 695 rushing yards.

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Kuhr started coaching at Edward Waters University in 2009. Following his time there, Kuhr joined multiple D1 programs before entering the NFL with the Tennessee Titans in 2020 as their quality control coach. After the 2020 season, Kuhr was promoted to the Titans inside linebackers assistant coach position and has been there the past three seasons.

 

Washington Huskies hire former Rutgers long snapper Steve Belichick as defensive coordinator

Steve Belichick has joined Washington as their defensive coordinator.

Washington’s coaching staff will include a Belichick in 2024. On Tuesday, the university announced that Steve Belichick will be the team’s new defensive coordinator. The former Rutgers football player will lead Washington in their first year in the Big Ten.

Belichick was an accomplished lacrosse player who spent his final year of college eligibility in 2011 with Rutgers as their long snapper.

In Belichick, Washington has added a coach with plenty of experience. He spent 12 years with the New England Patriots after being hired by his dad, Bill Belichick, in 2012. During his stint in New England, he wore many different hats.

After four years as the assistant coach, he was promoted to safeties coach ahead of the 2016 season. Three years later, Belichick called plays for the defense before becoming the outside linebackers coach in 2020.

 

While Belichick is turning the page on a new chapter in his career, the change is not unexpected. After his father and the Patriots parted ways a few weeks ago, rumors have been swirling about what was next. New Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo was open to keeping Steve and his brother Brian on his staff. Mayo and Steve had grown close over the years.

“I spent a lot of time with Steve in the dungeon, and we would go in there and break down film and talk ball,” Mayo said in mid-December via ESPN. “Hearing it from him, from a coach’s perspective — one of the greatest head coaches’ sons; and then I brought the on-the-field perspective.”

After a successful decade with the Patriots, Belichick will now get to form his own path. 

Watch: Isiah Pacheco is a little bit freaked out by the ‘Blue Man Group’ at Super Bowl Opening Night

Isiah Pacheco reacts to ‘Blue Man Group.’

Isiah Pacheco was having fun at the Super Bowl Opening Night, even if the Kansas City Chiefs running back did get a little spooked by ‘Blue Man Group.’ The former Rutgers football standout was a quote machine, even when surrounded by some less-than-quoteworthy individuals.

Members of the cast of the ‘Blue Man Group’ surrounded Pacheco on Monday night during the Super Bowl Opening Night. The Chiefs running back had some fun with the cast members before seemingly finding their silence (part of the act) perhaps less than enthralling.

Pacheco, a former Rutgers running back, was gold with a moment from the Super Bowl Opening Night. Always one to crack a joke, Pacheco didn’t disappoint with his response to the performance group:

 

The 2022 seventh-round pick out of Rutgers has put together another strong season for the Chiefs, including rushing for a touchdown in all three playoff games.

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Last week in the AFC Championship Game at the Baltimore Ravens, Pacheco went for 68 rushing yards on 24 carries with a second-quarter touchdown.

Pacheco, two years removed from Rutgers, has now made the Super Bowl in his first two seasons in the NFL.

Isiah Pacheco reacts to underdog Kansas City Chiefs going to the Super Bowl: ‘We knew we had doubters’

Isiah Pacheco enjoys winning the AFC Championship Game with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Isiah Pacheco is heading back to the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs. The former Rutgers running back said Sunday’s win in the AFC Championship Game was an answer to those who had buried the Chiefs earlier this season.

This will mark two Super Bowl appearances for Pacheco in what is now his second year in the NFL. The 2022 seventh-round pick out of Rutgers earned the starting running back job midway through his rookie season and hasn’t looked back.

On Sunday, he had a second-quarter touchdown to help lift the Chiefs to a win at the Baltimore Ravens.

And despite a midseason swoon, the Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl with a performance that Pacheco said should answer any critics.

“It’s the goal and the mindset, it came with practice – we knew we had doubters,” Pacheco told FOX after the game.

“Just eliminate it, just go in as a unit and come in with one goal and purpose to get the victory.”

Pacheco on Sunday had 68 rushing yards on 24 carries with a second-quarter touchdown.

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“What impressed me most is the determined mindset of the leaders. You got guys going out there, it’s a long season,” Pacheco said after the game.

“Guys playing hurt, finding a way, eliminating distractions, the pain and just figuring it out and giving it your all. That’s what it takes”

Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl: Does Taylor Swift have an Isiah Pacheco touchdown celebration?

Isiah Pacheco seems to have a fan in Taylor Swift.

Is Taylor Swift a closet Rutgers football fan? Judging from her celebration of Isiah Pacheco’s touchdown celebrations the past two weeks for the Kansas City Chiefs, the answer is yes.

Swift was seen on Sunday as Pacheco, a former Rutgers football standout, scored a touchdown. Both in the divisional round last week against the Buffalo Bills and then this past Sunday, Swift did a similar celebration, flashing both hands to make the number 10. Which, coincidentally, is Pacheco’s jersey number.

So, yeah, maybe we’re onto something here.

It is a neat moment for sure. Swift is a generational talent and seeing her yell out Pacheco’s name is definitely a bit surreal. Pacheco is in his second year in the NFL and is headed to his second Super Bowl appearance.

 

Now he goes to the Super Bowl with Swift apparently giving him a patented touchdown celebration. Not too bad for Pacheco, who was formerly a seventh round pick out of Rutgers in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Pacheco on Sunday had 68 rushing yards on 24 carries with a second-quarter touchdown.

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Pacheco has a rushing touchdown in all three playoff games. He also has seven straight games with a touchdown scored which is the longest active streak in the NFL.

Scroll down and check out the best photos of Isiah Pacheco and the Kansas City Chiefs from Sunday’s win. The former Rutgers star is heading (again) to the Super Bowl!

Watch: Isiah Pacheco follows a block from Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, gets a Kansas City Chiefs touchdown

Isiah Pacheco scored for the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

Isiah Pacheco, following a block from Travis Kelce (the boyfriend of Taylor Swift, if you didn’t know), gave the Kansas City Chiefs the lead early in the second quarter. It was, as Bill Belichick might say, a big day for Rutgers.

The two-yard touchdown run by Pacheco put the Chiefs out to a 14-7 lead in the AFC Championship Game.

As noted on the broadcast, this is the seventh straight game (regular season or postseason) where Pacheco has a touchdown. It is the longest active streak in the NFL.

In the first two games of the NFL playoffs, Pacheco has been very strong. He has 186 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to spark the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game.

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The former Rutgers football running back was a seventh-round pick of the Chiefs in the 2022 NFL draft. At Rutgers, he was an All-Big Ten selection…and for those who care, no Taylor Swift celebrations in this highlight:

 

And to underscore the Chiefs’ dominance on offense, here is a fascinating stat from the always thoughtful Rich Cimini of ESPN:

 

NFL Playoffs: Kansas City Chiefs (and former Rutgers) star Isiah Pacheco isn’t running away from his angry runs

Rutgers football standout Isiah Pacheco is turning heads in the NFL with his angry runs.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco runs like he is angry. And he is not running away from that label either, the former Rutgers football standout instead embracing his running style.

On the season, Pacheco has 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. But in the playoffs, Pacheco’s hard running has helped the Chiefs advance to Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.

On Sunday in a win at the Buffalo Bills, Pacheco had 97 rushing yards on 15 carries with a touchdown. He churned out 11 hard, angry yards to kill off the game for the Chiefs.

A seventh-round pick of Rutgers in the 2022 NFL draft, Pacheco earned the starting job midway through his rookie season and hasn’t looked back. At Rutgers, he was an All-Big Ten selection his senior year.

Asked this week during a media session, Pacheco said that angry running is the way he plays.

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“Absolutely. Through everything that’s been in front of you, understanding the week has been a long process,” Pacheco told reporters.

“Being prepared, understanding the scheme and willing to do whatever you got to do to get the job done is leaving it all out there on the field with no regrets.”

If the Chiefs are going to win at the Baltimore Ravens this week, then it is likely they will need a big contribution from Pacheco.

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Through two playoff games this postseason, Pacheco has 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

A few angry runs for Pacheco would go a long way towards the Chiefs booking a return to the Super Bowl.

“They say I run like I bite people. That was crazy. That was one of the funniest ones,” Pacheco said.

“Saying I run like I bite the ground, bite the grass. It’s a great opinion, I guess to have. For me, it is being determined and understanding that I have a goal to achieve.We want to get the job done.”

Watch: Isiah Pacheco shares moment with a young fan following Kansas City Chiefs win

Isiah Pacheco has a special moment with a young Kansas City Chiefs fan.

On Sunday night, Isiah Pacheco played a vital role in the Kansas City Chiefs win over the Buffalo Bills. As Kansas City advanced to their sixth straight AFC Championship game, the former Rutgers football star recorded 97 rushing yards on 15 carries. However, he didn’t only make headlines with his play.

After the game, Pacheco took the time to interact with a young Chiefs fan. Pacheco signed the fans jersey and gave him the gloves he used during the game. Despite the cold temperatures, the 24-year-old took the time to give the fan a moment he would never forget.

Additionally, themoment seemed to hype up the fan who braved the cold. Following the interaction, he said to Pacheco, ” Thank you, Let’s go boy, Let’s go boy! Let’s go!”

Their few moments together ended with a high-five.

 

 

The former Rutgers football standout has become a fan favorite due to his play. Following a solid regular season, Pacheco has 186 rushing yards this postseason and has found the end zone twice. He has also added two catches and 13 receiving yards to his resume.

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With the Chiefs’ eyes set on a championship, more fan interactions could be on the horizon as Pacheco continues to be a vital piece of the offense.