Category: Knights in the NFL

Gallery: Isiah Pacheco scores game-winning touchdown for the Kansas City Chiefs (as Taylor Swift celebrates)

Isiah Pacheco and the Kansas City Chiefs celebrate their NFL Playoff win.

Isiah Pacheco and the Kansas City Chiefs are heading to the AFC Championship Game following Sunday’s 27-24 win at the Buffalo Bills. Pacheco, a former Rutgers football running back, scored the fourth-quarter touchdown that got the Chiefs the lead, sending Taylor Swift into a frenzied celebration.

Pacheco’s hard, angry fourth-quarter run of four yards gave the Chiefs the lead. They managed to hang on, putting them a game away from the Super Bowl.

He finished the game with 15 carries for 97 yards and that fourth-quarter touchdown. That touchdown earned a lot of airtime as it sent Swift, the world’s biggest entertainment star, into a celebration that included her flashing 10 fingers.

Pacheco, who was an All-Big Ten running back at Rutgers, wears the No. 10 jersey.

 

Swift is dating Pacheco’s Chiefs teammate Travis Kelce.

Scroll down and check out the best photos of Isiah Pacheco from Sunday night’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. The Taylor Swift NFL playoff tour will continue for one more week.

Watch: Taylor Swift celebrates the Isiah Pacheco touchdown that sends the Kansas City Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game

Isiah Pacheco gets a big reaction from Taylor Swift after one of his touchdowns.

Move over Travis Kelce? It appears that Taylor Swift is an Isiah Pacheco fan, the pop star and icon flashing 10 fingers in support of the Kansas City Chiefs running back. A former standout at Rutgers, this surreal moment from the NFL playoffs was in no one’s bingo card for 2024.

Pacheco scored a four-yard touchdown run with 14:20 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs a 27-24 lead over the Buffalo Bills. It was the game-winning touchdown for the Chiefs, who advanced to the AFC Championship Game.

As of the midpoint of the fourth quarter, Pacheco had 86 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

The hard, physical run saw Pacheco withstand a tough tackle at the end but momentum saw him across the goal line. The touchdown led to Swift, who is dating Pacheco’s teammate, the aforementioned Kelce, flashing her fingers 10 times in what appeared to be a celebration for the Chiefs running back.

Pacheco wears the No. 10 jersey for the Chiefs.

 

Swift has been quite the Chiefs fan since she started dating Kelce and has become a regular at their games, home and on the road.

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A former All-Big Ten running back at Rutgers, Pacheco is having another very strong year for the Chiefs.

Last year, the Chiefs won the Super Bowl in Pacheco’s rookie season. He scored a touchdown in the second quarter of the win.

Former Rutgers Bo Melton scores TD for Packers in NFC Divisional game

Bo Melton had a big day for the Green Bay Packers on Saturday.

On Saturday afternoon, the Green Bay Packers season came to an end in a 24-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. While the Packers were unable to knock off the top seed in the NFC, there were a few bright spots. That includes former Rutgers star Bo Melton.

In his second career playoff game, the New Jersey native made his presence felt. With the Packers trailing by one in the third quarter, Jordan Love found Melton open for a 19-yard touchdown pass. It was Melton’s only catch of the game, but he made it count.

Additionally, the touchdown gave Green Bay a 13-7 lead before the 49ers offense came storming back. For the former Rutger star, it is a moment he will never forget.

 

While the Packers will now shift their focus to next season, Saturday represented an important milestone for Melton. He was activated from the practice squad on November 29 and appeared in five games during the regular season. In that span, he hauled in 16 catches for 218 yards. He also averaged 13.6 yards a catch.

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In the playoffs, Melton continued to make an impact with two catches for 26 yards. Although the Packers fell short of their goals, they surpassed all expectations with a young roster. Melton hopes to be part of their future and, with his first postseason touchdown, showed that he warrants some consideration.

Patrick Mahomes: The Kansas City Chiefs will lean into (former Rutgers football star) Isiah Pacheco this week

Former Rutger star Isiah Pacheco is praised by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco has a fan in Patrick Mahomes. The All-Pro quarterback, when asked this week to talk about Pacheco’s impact on the Chiefs offense, had nothing but praise for the former Rutgers football running back.

Last week in the win over the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Wild Card round, Pacheco had 89 rushing yards on 24 carries. He had a fourth-quarter touchdown that wrapped up the game for the Chiefs.

With a divisional round game at the Buffalo Bills this Sunday, the Chiefs are going to rely on Pacheco’s hard-running style to control the clock and keep a strong Bills offense off the field.

During his weekly availability, Mahomes talked to the media about what Pacheco’s output has meant to the Chiefs in the postseason.

“He’s a great football player, leaning into him, leaning into our offensive line and what they do best is extremely important to our team How the defense is playing, giving them a rest, and letting us to control the ball. It’s something you have to do to win football games in this league,” Mahomes told reporters this week.

“It’s not always going to be high-flying but we’re going to do whatever we can to win the football game at the end of the day and if that’s running the ball, throwing the ball – whatever that is.”

Pacheco was a seventh-round pick of the Chiefs in the 2022 NFL draft. He was a former All-Big Ten running back at Rutgers. It was at Rutgers where Pacheco flashed his now infamous hard-running, a style which is commnly referred to as angry runs.

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On the season, Pacheco had 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games.

Scroll down and check out some of the best photos from Isiah Pacheco and the Kansas City Chiefs this past weekend in their AFC wild card win over the Miami Dolphins!

Rutgers football makes, New England Patriots take: Tem Lukabu will interview for the Pats’ DC job

According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, former Rutgers coach Tem Lukabu is set to interview for New England’s defensive coordinator position.

Tem Lukabu, currently a linebackers coach with the Carolina Panthers, will interview for the defensive coordinator position with the New England Patriots per a report. Lukabu spent time on the Rutgers football staff early in his career.

Freshly announced Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo, who replaces the legendary Bill Belichick, is beginning to piece together his first staff as a head coach. According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Mayo is set to interview Lukabu for the Patriots’ open defensive coordinator position. The former Rutgers outside linebackers coach (2010-2011) is a rising star in the coaching industry.

He has strong experience in the college ranks as well as now in the NFL.Lukabu served as Rutgers director of player development from 2006-07, leaving Rutgers football to join the staff at Rhode Island from 2008-09.

 

 

 

After his two seasons in Rhode Island as the outside linebacker coach, Lukabus joined Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights for two seasons (2010-11), where he coached linebackers.

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In 2012, Schiano left Rutgers to take the head coaching position for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lukabu followed Schiano and joined his staff as a defensive assistant for two seasons.

After two seasons with Tampa Bay, Lukabu coached multiple teams between college and the NFL, receiving his first defensive coordinator position at Boston College in 2020. He spent three seasons at Boston College, coaching a defense that jumped from finishing No. 125 in total defense the year before his arrival to No. 73 in 2020.

After Boston College, Lukabu returned to the NFL, joining Carolina’s coaching staff last season.

 

Watch: In freezing temps, Kansas City Chiefs (and former Rutgers) running back Isiah Pacheco runs hot (and gets a touchdown)

Isiah Pacheco was hot for the Kansas City Chiefs in Saturday’s Wild Card win.

The temperature at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night might have been at -4° with a wind chill at -20°, but Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is running hot. The former Rutgers star running back is running as angry as ever, just in time for the NFL playoffs.

In Saturday night’s AFC Wild Card round, Pacheco ran hard for 89 yards on 24 carries, scoring a touchdown to help the Chiefs to a 26-7 win over the Miami Dolphins. The Chiefs, despite the frigid temperatures, are running into the next round of the NFL playoffs

Pacheco ended the regular season on a high note, with 130 rushing yards on 18 carries. Despite battling injuries, Pacheco had 935 rushing yards and seven touchdowns – both career highs – in 14 games.

A seventh-round pick out of Rutgers in the 2022 NFL draft, Pacheco had a strong rookie season for the Chiefs as he played a huge part in their run to the Super Bowl.

Now, he is part of a Chiefs offense that was efficient and productive against a very strong Dolphins team.

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No one thought that the Chiefs would be in the AFC Wild Card round, given their recent success in the playoffs. But a stretch in midseason where they lost five of eight games doomed the Chiefs to and 11-6 record and the Wild Card round.

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And here is his touchdown to seal the game for the Chiefs.

 

Scroll down and check out the best photos of former Rutgers running back Isiah Pacheco from Saturday night’s win by the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL playoffs!

What Rutgers football players are in the NFL playoffs?

On Saturday, the NFL Playoffs will kick off with ten former Scarlet Knights representing Rutgers football in the NFL postseason.

On Saturday, the NFL Playoffs will kick off with ten former Scarlet Knights representing Rutgers football in the NFL postseason. In the past, Rutgers has seen their fair share of players go to the next level and be successful, and this year, it hasn’t changed.

Heading into the postseason, the Scarlet Knights will be well-represented in the NFL Playoffs, with a healthy representation in the postseason. Rutgers football had 15 former players log snaps during the 2023-24 season, and the Scarlet Knights will continue that trend into the postseason.

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Former players like Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City), Bo Melton (Green Bay), and Gus Edwards (Baltimore) have combined for 23 touchdowns during the regular season, tying a record set by Ray Rice (12), Mohamed Sanu (5), Kenny Britt (4) and Tiquan Underwood (2) during the 2012 NFL season. Since 1996, a former Scarlet Knight has produced an NFL touchdown in 28 consecutive seasons.

Below are the ten active Scarlet Knights representing Rutgers football in the NFL Playoffs.

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Former Rutgers QB Mike Teal reflects on his experiences with Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll

Former Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel reacts to the firings of Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll.

In the past 48 hours, the NFL world has seen two legendary runs come to an end. On Wednesday, the Seattle Seahawks parted ways with Pete Carroll as their head coach. On Thursday morning, Bill Belichick and the Patriots decided to part ways after a 24-year run that included six championships and an era of dominance never seen before.

As both franchises prepare for a new chapter, former and current players have taken to social media to share their appreciation for the two icons. That includes former Rutgers quarterback Mike Teal, who played for both during his two years in the NFL.

In a post on his X account, Teal said, ” I got to be in locker rooms and meetings with Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll. There was a reason why they have been two of the best in the ever changing NFL year after year. Leaders of men in their own ways. Sacrifice to the betterment of the team wins. Congrats on great runs.”

 

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While Carroll and Belichick need no introduction, Teal was able to cross paths with two men who have etched themselves into the record books. During Carroll’s tenure, he became the winningest coach in Seahawks history. In 2014, he led the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl title.

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During his time in New England, Belichick became one of the greatest NFL coaches the game has ever seen. With Belichick at the helm, the Patriots won 308 games, including the postseason. From 2001 to 2019, the Patriots won 17 of 19 AFC East titles, including an NFL record of 11 consecutive division crowns.

While Belichick is now searching for a new team, Carroll’s run in Seattle is not over. His role will change from head coach to advisor. However, their impact goes beyond the stat sheet, and as Teal said in his Twitter post, they are two of the best the NFL has ever seen.

Former Rutgers football long snapper selected to NFL Pro Bowl

Former Rutgers football player Andrew DePaola made the Pro Bowl.

For the second consecutive season, former Rutgers long snapper Andrew DePaola is heading to the Pro Bowl. The Minnesota Vikings player finished second among NFC long snappers in fan voting.

He will be joined by, outside linebacker Danielle Hunter, who has recorded 15.5 sacks for the Vikings this season.

During his time in Minnesota, DePaola has become a leader in the locker room. The 36-year-old has also been vital to the special teams unit, continually coming through in big situations. There have also been two plays in particular that have stood during the 2023 campaign.

Against the Lions on Christmas Eve, DePaola executed a snap perfectly that allowed Greg Joseph to knock through a 54-yard field goal. In Week 11 against the Broncos, the Parton native made a direct snap to running back Ty Chandler on a successful fake punt.

 

While DePaola is not a stranger to the Pro Bowl, it is still an honor that means a lot. On the social media app X, the former Rutgers star took the time to thank those who have helped him in his career.

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In his post, DePaola said:

“Thank you to everyone who helped me get to this position. I am truly honored. Back-to-back. We have, without a doubt, the best fans in the NFL. Being on the best radio show is also a great way to gain support @93xhamd. Thank you all again.”

During his NFL career, DePaola has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders.

Watch: Ray Rice, a former Rutgers football standout, gets an ovation as he is honored by the Baltimore Ravens

Rutgers football legend Ray Rice gets warmly greeted in return to the Baltimore Ravens.

Ray Rice was honored on Sunday by the Baltimore Ravens, the former NFL running back being brought back to the organization after a decade away from the team. A former Rutgers football running back, Rice is one of the most successful players from the program to find sustained success in the NFL.

During his six years in the NFL, the hard-running, physical back had 6,180 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns. Three times he was selected to the Pro Bowl.

In 2014, Rice was the center of a domestic violence video that saw him hit his wife and drag her body off an elevator. He was suspended indefinitely by the NFL, released by the Ravens and never played another snap in the league.

The moment clouded his legacy and certainly saw to ending his career in the NFL.

But Rice has turned into an outspoken advocate against domestic violence, openly talking about how the moment changed him into a different man as a husband and a father.

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On Sunday, the Ravens honored Rice as a ‘Legend of the Game.’ He was greeted by the crowd in Baltimore with no hint of the controversy that surrounded the end of his career:

 

Beginning in 2005, Rice spent three tremendous years at Rutgers. His growth and development saw him spearhead a Rutgers offense that led the Scarlet Knights to bowl game wins in 2006 and 2007.

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He is the all-time leading rusher (4,926 rushing yards) in program history, as well as holding the record for most rushing touchdowns (49) at Rutgers.