NFL Rumors: Andy Reid to Ditch Patrick Mahomes’ Lethal Offensive Weapon Amid Doubts Over Health.

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“I ain’t no zombie,” Isiah Pacheco once quipped when asked about his ferocious running style.

But right now, Chiefs Kingdom is sweating bullets over whether the human wrecking ball they’ve grown to love will even be on the field in 2025.

Rumors are swirling like a Kansas City tornado about coach Andy Reid‘s take on the RB’s future.

Here’s the tea. It’s rumored that Andy Reid might bench Pacheco’s contract talks until the RB proves he’s back.

Cue the collective gasp from Arrowhead Stadium.

Let’s break it down: The Chiefs aren’t rushing to extend Pacheco’s rookie deal (worth a modest $3.7M over four years) despite his electric 935-yard, 7-TD season in 2023.

Why? The reason is just two words: broken body.

Pacheco’s injury résumé reads like a Final Destination script—torn labrum, busted hand, fractured fibula, rib injury.

and concussions—all since 2022.

Yet, the dude keeps bouncing back like Jason Voorhees.

But Reid, now the fourth coach in NFL history to hit 300 wins (shoutout to Shula, Halas, and Belichick), isn’t messing around.

Per insider Tony Pauline, KC’s front office is playing hardball: ‘Prove it first, then we’ll talk money.’

 

 

 

 

Let’s rewind to 2022. Fresh off a Super Bowl win, Pacheco casually revealed he’d played through a torn labrum and broken hand in the playoffs. “

I had to put my mind to it and push through,” he said, channeling his inner Rocky Balboa.

Fast-forward to 2024: A fractured fibula in Week 2 sidelined him for seven games.

But true to form, he limped back by Week 12, ribs taped up like a mummy, muttering, “It’s been a challenging journey… The support fuels my determination.”

Stats don’t lie: Pacheco’s 2024 was a grind—310 rushing yards, 1 TD—a far cry from his near-1K-yard 2023 campaign.

Yet, Mahomes has called him “the most consistent young guy” he’s seen, praising his “fall forward” grit.

Even after Pacheco got ejected for throwing punches (hey, “I love the fire from Pop!” Mahomes laughed), the QB stood by his RB.

These two have chemistry hotter than a KC barbecue pit—like that time Mahomes literally pushed Pacheco into the end zone against Green Bay. “That’s called family,” Pacheco grinned post-game.

But here’s the rub: Running backs have shorter shelf lives than avocado toast.

With Pacheco’s $1.1M cap hit in 2025 and whispers of a $48M extension, Reid’s playing 4D chess.

He’s seen this movie before—cough Jamaal Charles cough—and won’t gamble the Chiefs’ three-peat dreams on a “maybe.”

 

Chiefs Culture: Where Mahomes meets Pacheco .

 

If the Chiefs were a TV show, they’d be Friday Night Lights meets Game of Thrones.

The “Sea of Red” at Arrowhead isn’t just a fanbase—it’s a religion.

Tailgates start at dawn, the “I Believe” chant rattles opposing teams, and Lamar Hunt’s ghost (metaphorically) watches from his legacy seat.

Pacheco slid into this culture like he was born for it.

At community events, he’s high-fiving kids and grilling with fans, embodying the team’s “not about ‘I’” mantra.

But let’s talk 2024’s elephant in the room: KC’s rushing attack was weaker than decaf coffee. Mahomes—the quarterback—was third in team rushing yards.

Kareem Hunt’s pending free agency leaves Pacheco as RB1… if healthy.

Reid’s been cryptic, saying they’ll take it “week-by-week, day-by-day,” but Pacheco’s playoff return (37 yards in three games) was more “meh” than MVP.

Still, the Chiefs’ offense runs on swagger, and Pacheco’s got enough to power a spaceship.

 

 

 

 

Mahomes isn’t sweating. “He’s hard to tackle… finishes every run,” he’s said, and their behind-the-back TD in training camp? Pure magic.

But NFL careers hinge on “what have you done lately?” And lately, Pacheco’s been more Band-Aid than bulldozer.

The Chiefs are at a crossroads. Do they bet $48 million on Pacheco’s resilience or let him walk like a Moneyball plot twist?

For a team that turned ‘How ‘bout them Chiefs?!‘ into a global anthem, the answer’s clear: Win now, worry later.

But in Andy Reid’s world, “later” is already here.

If Pacheco wants that bag, he’ll need to channel his inner Terminator this season.

Why so? Because in KC, Lombardi trophies trump sentimentality.

As Pacheco himself would say: “I can’t wait to show the fans how hard we’ve been working.”

Better bring a flak jacket, buddy.

The NFL waits for no one—not even zombies.