NFL Rookie Isiah Pacheco Helps Lead Kansas City Chiefs to Super Bowl Win Over Philadelphia Eagles

It’s an unforgettable end to an unbelievable NFL rookie season for Isiah Pacheco.

The 23-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American running back scored a touchdown to help lead the Kansas City Chiefs‘ to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday.

Isiah PachecoPacheco, who was taken in the last round of the 2022 NFL Draft, can boast about something that few others can, being an NFL champion after the Chiefs’ 38-35 victory over the Eagles.

On Sunday, he excelled with a touchdown and ran for 76 yards, with 15 carries and an average of 5.1 in each one.

His season was impressive, as he rushed for 830 yards with five touchdowns and averaged 4.9 yards per carry in the regular season.

Those numbers were highlighted by Patrick Mahomes, the team’s star, who singled him out for praise.

“He’s so physically gifted, it’s hard for defenses to account for how physical he is,” Mahomes said after the Divisional Round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

And he proved that on Sunday, as the Eagles defense slowed him down on only a few occasions with hard hits, one in the fourth quarter, but he got up to stay in the game.

That commitment and dedication was rewarded for Pacheco, who keeps his feet on the ground and, as an NFL champion, knows that doing everything with effort and as a team is the best recommendation for all young players.

“Work, listen to your parents, put your best effort into everything you do,” he said when he was interviewed by ESPN during the celebrations.

“Coach always told us that teamwork is the most important thing.

“Today was an example that together we are all capable of achieving whatever we set out to do.”

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Matt Araiza Announces Plans to Enter 2022 NFL Draft

Matt Araiza is entering the draft…

The 21-year-old Mexican American college football star, a punter for San Diego State and Ray Guy Award winner, has announced that he’ll be entering the 2022 NFL Draft after putting together one of the best punting seasons in college football history.

Matt Araiza“These past four years have been a blessing,” Araiza wrote on Twitter. “Thank you to my family and friends for all the years of support. With gratitude, I am announcing my decision to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft.”

Araiza, who had one year left of eligibility, set the record for punting average in a season with 51.19 yards per punt. He holds the NCAA record of punts of 50 yards or more with 39 and the record for punts of 60 yards or more with 18. He also had two punts of 80 yards or more this season, including an 86-yarder.

Matt AraizaAraiza is a former soccer player-turned kicker from San Diego who made the switch to football early in high school.

“When I made that transition, from soccer to football, it was because I wanted to be in the NFL,” Araiza told ESPN in November.

He said that he studies NFL kickers and models some of his approach after Jake Bailey, who currently kicks for the New England Patriots and has a similar background and body type to Araiza.

 

Araiza also was selected as a first-team All-American, which triggered bonuses for coach Brady Hoke and offensive coordinator Jeff Hecklinski.