How Chiefs’ Isiah Pacheco surprised young KC cancer patient and superfan at Arrowhead | Opinion
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is a champion on and off the field. And I say this with all sincerity — or as the younger generation would say, no cap, which is slang for no lie.
Pacheco is a third-year player from Rutgers University affectionately known as Pop. He already has two Super Bowl rings. Away from the gridiron, Pacheco has quickly established himself in the Kansas City community as a kind-hearted spirit willing to go above and beyond to make Chiefs fans happy.
Appearances at autograph signings and other public-facing events here is the norm for this Vineland, New Jersey, native.
The latest example of Pacheco’s love for others was on full display last month during a visit to Arrowhead Stadium with a young cancer patient named Matthew Lee, an 18-year-old football player from Kansas City.
According to a segment that aired on NBC’s Today show in December, Matthew was recently diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Leave it up to Pop to brighten this young man’s day.
In an interview last month with NBC news correspondent Morgan Chesky, Matthew explained why Pacheco is his favorite Chiefs player.
“When he runs, you can tell he loves this game and that it’s a passion for him,” Matthew said.
Later, Matthew told Chesky he is facing his fight against cancer with humor and a positive attitude.
“I will get through this,” Matthew said.
Then Pacheco, outfitted in a Santa Claus get up, is shown popping out of nowhere to surprise Matthew inside the Chiefs’ locker room.
“Let’s go,” Matthew said as he and Pacheco embraced.
“You know who I am?” Pacheco said.
With a sense of calmness and cool, Matthew replied: “Pacheco. I’m way better now.”
Given No. 10 jersey in Instagram post
A series of photos posted to the Chiefs’ official Instagram account documented the occasion. In one photo the two are seen together smiling and posing for the camera. In another shot, Matthew stands with his mouth agape as he holds a red Chiefs jersey adorned with Pacheco’s No. 10 on it.
One still shows Matthew and Pacheco standing next to each other with the autographed jersey. Another frame shows a candid shot of them apparently being silly for the camera.
In the Instagram post, Matthew is described as a Pacheco “superfan.”
“Matthew, cancer patient and Isiah Pacheco superfan, got a huge surprise at the end of his stadium tour,” the post read. “Pop gave him some autographed swag and tickets to this weekend’s game. See you tomorrow, Matthew!”
The next day, the Chiefs beat Houston 27-19 at Arrowhead. I wanted to ask Matthew about the experience, but attempts to track him down were not successful.
In the comment section of the social media post, a user named Bryan Vanosdale said he was Matthew’s vice principal at East High School in Kansas City. I reached out to Vanosdale for a comment but haven’t heard back.
“Mr. Pacheco, thank you for doing this for Matt,” Vanosdale wrote. “I’m his vice principal at (East High School). You do not understand how much I appreciate you doing this for Matt. He is an absolutely amazing and wonderful young man. He has been such a blessing to me, his teachers and fellow students. God bless you sir. You have blessed him so much.”
In an interview with NBC’s Chesky, Pacheco spoke on the importance of making time to give back to the community.
“When I was a kid, I didn’t have that person to look up to or whoever it may be that gave that spark in my day,” Pacheco said.
Asked what advice he would give to people like Matthew that is facing adversity, Pacheco replied: “Win the day.”
Any of us could use that advice on a daily basis.
When the Chiefs drafted Pacheco in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, a team scout described Pacheco as tough, hard-nosed and physical. In his three years playing here, Pacheco has lived up to that billing
If you have seen this man with the ball in his hands, the one thing you could never question is his toughness.
But his off-the-field exploits and kind-hearted nature are worth noting, too.
