Following the disappointing 2025 Detroit Lions season, change was mandated in 2026. In one of the biggest 2026 NFL Free Agency moves, Brad Holmes traded David Montgomery to Houston, ending the thrilling Sonic and Knuckles era. Days later, Holmes acquired former Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco to become Gibbs’ newest partner.
For many Detroit fans, this was a tough pill to swallow. Montgomery was a beloved fan-favorite who, together with Jahmyr Gibbs, became one-half of the NFL’s top running back duos. Although the Lions gained offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a 2026 fourth-round draft pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick, there was suddenly a gaping hole in Detroit’s backfield. However, bringing on Pacheco could be the solution. He’s a solid fit for the Lions’ offensive scheme. Here’s how Pacheco can re-ignite the Lions’ elite ground game.
How Isiah Pacheco Can Re-Ignite The Lions’ Elite Ground Game
Combining the perfect blend of power and speed, Gibbs and Montgomery accounted for 6,086 rushing yards on 1,237 carries with 72 touchdowns between 2023 and 2025. During those three years, the dynamic duo added 257 catches for another 2,099 yards with 10 more touchdowns. Despite a drop-off in the Lions’ ground game last season, it was never a question of Montgomery failing to meet the standard. He’d done everything the Lions asked of him. However, the offense stalled under the crumbling weight of an injury-depleted offensive line. A lackluster offensive scheme under former OC Johnny Morton left the Lions’ elite ground game stuck in neutral. Relying heavily on the same ineffective straight-up-the-middle play over and over, Morton’s ground game struggled to gain traction.
Lions Salary Cap Issue Prompts Trade
Heading into the 2026 season, Montgomery deserved to be paid as an RB1 talent; however, given Detroit’s bloated salary cap, the team couldn’t afford it. Although it wasn’t the smoothest of partings, Montgomery is now a valued RB1 in Houston with a $16.5 million two-year contract. According to Spotrac.com, the deal includes $10 million guaranteed plus a $6.5 million signing bonus with an average salary of $8.5 million per year.
Replacing that elite level of production wasn’t going to be easy. However, Holmes may have found in Pacheco another ideal candidate to pair with Gibbs. In many ways, Pacheco bears a striking resemblance to Montgomery.
A Re-Energized Ground Attack with Pacheco
Now, with the addition of Pacheco in the backfield and new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, the Lions’ ground game is expected to re-emerge as the fire-starter in 2026. Petzing brings a strong resume following his success with the Arizona Cardinals’ ground game. He had back-to-back top 10 rushing performances with the Cardinals in 2023 and 2024. Arizona’s offense placed 4th in the NFL with 2,365 rushing yards in 2023. The following year, James Conner powered Arizona’s rushing attack to a combined 2,451 yards with 18 touchdowns, averaging 5.29 yards per carry, a new franchise record.
Given Petzing’s track record, it was initially hoped he could recreate the two-headed monster attack with Gibbs and Montgomery. Now, it falls to Petzing to create a new one-two punch based on the combined talents of Gibbs and Pacheco.
Montgomery and Pacheco Have Similar Histories
At face value, Pacheco and Montgomery have a great deal in common. Both have been described as “power-backs” in their rushing style, although the label doesn’t do either man justice. Montgomery is much more than simply a power running back with his elite balance and penchant for busting out spin moves that gain extra yardage. In addition, he played high school quarterback and demonstrated his ability to accurately throw a football when the Lions’ trick playbook called for it.
Sharing a similar background, Pacheco also assumed the dual roles of running back and high school quarterback. Both men came from tough childhoods and experienced tragic losses at an early age, creating a deep awareness of the frailty and brevity of life. Montgomery lost a close friend and teammate who died tragically during a home invasion. Pacheco’s brother was stabbed to death in 2016, and his sister died a year later as a victim of domestic violence. They both share a deep-rooted commitment to honoring the memory of those they’ve lost, and that commitment fuels their discipline and success.
NFL standouts during their rookie seasons, Montgomery and Pacheco, suffered injuries that limited their success in later years. However, fighting to come back from those injuries, both regained the superior athleticism that characterized their careers. After dealing with a concussion and a knee sprain early in his career, Montgomery memorably fought back against initial diagnoses of a season-ending knee injury to rejoin the Lions for the divisional playoff round in 2024.
Pacheco had a similar history, playing through a fractured hand and torn labrum in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2023 Super Bowl victory. In 2024, a broken fibula early in September cost him most of the season, but he returned in Week 13 to finish the year with one touchdown on 83 carries for 310 yards. In 2025, Pacheco recorded 118 carries for 462 yards with one touchdown, plus 19 catches for 101 yards and a receiving score.
Why The Pacheco Signing Makes Sense
Recognizing the problems in Detroit’s ground attack last season stemmed primarily from the loss of Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow and an injury-depleted offensive line, Holmes prioritized talent acquisition through free agency and the draft. Consequently, Petzing inherits a much stronger offensive line than Detroit had a year ago. He has a wealth of resources to draw upon, including a deeper offensive line, a healthy roster of tight end talent, and the addition of Pacheco.
Much of Petzing’s success comes from utilizing a heavy personnel scheme and providing additional resources for blocking in the ground game. He could opt to split the defensive coverage by deploying both Pacheco and Gibbs in the backfield simultaneously. Or he could create additional blocking utilizing multiple tight end packages.
Like Montgomery, Pacheco has a talent for breaking tackles. Montgomery is elusive like a whirling pinball, while Pacheco has a reputation for brute strength. Characterized by a fierce determination, Pacheco gains yardage by pummeling his way through blockers. Ahead of the 2022 Draft, NFL analyst Lance Zierlein described Pacheco as a “hard-charging, high-energy runner with three-down potential…who plays the game like a race car with no brakes.”
Pacheco ran an impressive 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and has an explosive initial burst of speed. Although he was drafted in the seventh round by Kansas City, it didn’t take long for him to overachieve his Draft projection to earn the role of the Chiefs’ RB1. In his four years in Kansas City, Pacheco recorded 3,084 rushing yards on 707 carries with 18 touchdowns. He added another 696 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 109 catches. He is only 27 years old, and Holmes signed him to a low-risk, fully guaranteed one-year contract worth $1.81 million. He saved the Lions $6.69 million over Montgomery’s salary. It will be a huge win for the team if Petzing recreates the two-headed monster attack, and Pacheco re-ignites the Lions’ elite ground game.
