Isiah Pacheco, the Kansas City Chiefs running back, plays with a deep motivation driven by memories of his beloved siblings: Travoise, Ricky, Felicia, and Celeste. Since joining the NFL in 2022, the New Jersey native has experienced remarkable success, winning two Super Bowls and scoring a touchdown in his debut game. As he celebrated his latest championship victory in February 2024 with his parents, Felicia “Jody” Cannon and Julio Pacheco, Isiah’s thoughts turned to his late siblings.
Travoise and Celeste tragically lost their lives in 2016 and 2017, respectively. During his college days at Rutgers University, Isiah would often kneel in the end zone to honor them before resuming play. “I’ll say a few prayers for my sister and my brother and a couple of people who passed in my life,” he shared in a 2019 interview. “And then I just put everything on the line for my family in the stands.”
Isiah is the youngest of five siblings. He and his siblings, including the oldest Travoise, Ricky, Felicia, and Celeste, grew up in New Jersey. The family initially resided in Bridgeton before moving to Vineland, where Isiah played high school football. His mother recalled that even as a toddler, Isiah could charm his older siblings into doing what he wanted.
Felicia was named after their mother, who goes by “Jody” to avoid confusion. Isiah has a gold necklace bearing “Jody” in honor of his mother. Both Felicia and Ricky prefer to keep a low profile.
The bond between Isiah and his late brother Travoise was strengthened through football, which Isiah embraced after expressing his desire to play the sport to his father. Following Travoise’s sudden death, Isiah channeled his grief into resilience on the field. He often reflects on how Travoise would be proud of his achievements.
Isiah was particularly close to Celeste, who had a passion for cooking and was known for her brownies and love of music. After Celeste’s tragic passing in 2017 at the hands of her partner, Isiah felt a profound loss, as she was like a best friend and second mother to him. Despite his heartbreak, Isiah honored her memory with standout performances on the field shortly after her death.
Now, Isiah is a supportive uncle to Celeste’s three children, drawing inspiration from them as he aims to introduce them to football. He cherishes their shared moments, which include learning TikTok dances together, infusing joy into his life amid the sorrow of their loss.