Before free agency began, the Detroit Lions made a big decision to trade away David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. This was a clear sign that the Lions wanted to put most of the workload in the hands of Jahmyr Gibbs, especially with a contract extension in mind.
The next move was signing a backup running back to replace Montgomery, and the Lions have done that by signing Isiah Pacheco.
Detroit Lions Sign Isiah Pacheco To Backup Jahmyr Gibbs
In Detroit’s offense, Gibbs is going to be the lead back, and looking at his PFSN RB Impact Metric ranking (10), it makes sense why the Lions are doing that. With him being the main guy, there is a good chance he will finish the season as one of the best running backs in the league, but a backup was required to be signed.
According to PFSN’s RB Impact Metric, Montgomery was ranked 31st among running backs in the league last season, but where his impact was felt most was in the red zone. He was ranked 15th in RB touchdowns last season. Also, in the Lions offense, Montgomery was the “boom” to Gibbs’ “zoom”.
Source: The Lions are signing RB Isiah Pacheco. pic.twitter.com/TpWUD5fiBj
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 10, 2026
He brought the power-type RB role to the Lions’ offense, and Gibbs was the fast and elusive RB who got the team to the red zone. Although Gibbs’ role may be increasing, Detroit still needed a backup to fill the type of role Montgomery left behind, and now the Lions have signed Pacheco to be that RB.
The 2-time Super Bowl Champion with the Kansas City Chiefs has fallen out of favor in recent seasons, so moving on made sense for both sides. Pacheco has dealt with injuries throughout his career, and in 2025, he ranked nearly last in PFSN’s RB Impact Metric, finishing the season at 49th. Clearly, it was not a good year for the 27-year-old, but that can change with the Lions.
Detroit has a very good run-blocking offensive line that allows the RBs to make big plays. Pacheco’s role may be limited to short yardage or red zone snaps, but if he is given the ball in other areas, he could have some big moments next season.
The Lions have Super Bowl aspirations every year, and with new additions this offseason, including Pacheco, they should be back fighting for the playoffs again.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
