How Isiah Pacheco’s unique playing style paved the way for new Kansas City Chiefs RB Brashard Smith’s NFL journey
New Kansas City Chiefs RB Brashard Smith hasn't met his teammate Isiah Pacheco yet, but he already is indebted to him, and Pacheco probably doesn't even know it.When Smith put his name in the transfer portal after three seasons playing wide receiver at Miami, he reconnected with his old quarterback coach and offensive coordinator, the […]
New Kansas City Chiefs RB Brashard Smith hasn't met his teammate Isiah Pacheco yet, but he already is indebted to him, and Pacheco probably doesn't even know it.
When Smith put his name in the transfer portal after three seasons playing wide receiver at Miami, he reconnected with his old quarterback coach and offensive coordinator, the new Southern Methodist head coach, Rhett Lashlee.
Lashlee didn't need another wide receiver, but he had a different idea. What if Smith were open to playing running back?
"Me and Coach Lashlee, we've got a good bond with each other," Smith said. "As I hit the transfer portal, he kind of hit me up and was kind of telling me where he sees me on his offense. And he was telling me how I could just be this dynamic running back, coming out of the backfield. Just a starting running back, but coming out of the backfield, going to receiver, moving around here and there."
The vision for Smith as a running back sort of materialized out of thin air. Lashlee knew that Smith had some kickoff return ability and was good with the ball in his hands, but it wasn't until Lashlee saw Pacheco playing in the middle of the 2023 season that it clicked.
"And the honest part I was gonna get to is, I was watching the Kansas City Chiefs play middle of the year last year, and Isiah Pacheco was running," Lashlee said in September. "And I said, 'That’s Brashard Smith.' He’s ten pounds heavier than Brashard, but at that point, I’m like, 'Could Brashard do it?' So I’m like, 'Well, yeah, he can do it.' Because he just runs with that downhill mentality for a smaller back. Can definitely get on the edge, he can really catch the football."
Could he do it? It's safe to say that he proved himself capable at SMU. Within just a few weeks, it was apparent that the position switch was a success. By the end of the 2024 season, Smith had rushed for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns, while hauling in 39 catches for 327 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
What Isiah Pacheco means to new Chiefs RB Brashard Smith
When asked about being compared to Pacheco upon being drafted by Kansas City, Smith said he was grateful that his coach saw that in him. He carries a lot of respect for his new teammate and the way he plays the game.
“I heard Isiah Pacheco all season," Smith said. "It was kind of cool hearing that because he’s a great (running) back, and he does make a lot of plays for you guys (Chiefs). It felt good with him (Rhett Lashlee) saying that.”
When media members followed up with a question about the chance to learn from Pacheco, Smith lit up as if he were almost a bit star-struck.
"I feel like that's big time, I could learn a lot from him," Smith said. "He could be a mentor for me for sure. I feel like I could learn a lot from him."
Pacheco may have inspired Smith's journey to becoming a running back in the NFL, but now the veteran back will truly get a chance to help shape the young player. He's got a lot of learning and growing to do, but he says he's ready to do whatever it takes to make the team.
“I’m so ready. I’m so juiced up," Smith said. "I feel like you guys will see it for sure. Day one, I’m going to show
everyone what I’m capable of. As far as the running back room, I feel like we will all get each other better
as we work hard every day.”
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