Vineland throws joyous parade, rally for hometown Super Bowl champ Isiah Pacheco (2024)

VINELAND — Isiah Pacheco compared his life to a movie.

“Every movie has a main character. What a good movie will show you is a main character is nothing without other people around him to shape him and support him, which y’all do,” Pacheco said from the steps of City Hall on Saturday afternoon to the hundreds of supporters there for the Kansas City Chiefs running back.

For the third time in the last two years, Pacheco was honored in his hometown of Vineland. And for the second time, it was to celebrate Pacheco’s success with the Chiefs, who won the Super Bowl for the second straight year this past February with him as the starting running back.

“I can’t explain how much it feels to see how many people are out here, smiling, having a good time. I love you all,” Pacheco said.

The celebration began on Landis Avenue. Pacheco and his family and friends boarded a double-decker bus at the Vineland Fire Department headquarters on 4th Street. The bus made its way up 4th to Landis, where crowds lined the business district’s main road.

Pacheco, who gained the nickname “Pop” for the sound produced when he made a big hit in a youth football game, smiled and waved from the top of the bus as it made its way toward 7th Street, where it turned and headed for City Hall.

Vineland cheerleaders and the school’s marching band danced and performed on the City Hall steps. The Vineland football team along with mascots from the high school and Rutgers, where Pacheco played his college ball, led him out onto the steps to a roaring crowd.

“He’s a special person. He does something to this city that’s unlike anywhere else,” said Vineland football coach Jose Guzman. “This city is very, very together, and with him being (in) the spotlight that he’s in, it shines a light unlike anything this city’s seen, other than (pro offensive lineman and Vineland grad) Jamil Demby.”

Among the speakers Saturday were city and county officials, Gary Johnson, Pacheco’s first football coach with the Vineland Midget Football League, and former high school football coach Dan Russo.

“You created so much pride and excitement in Vineland by your success,” Russo told Pacheco. “Everyone looks forward to the NFL season, but it’s an entirely different excitement for this community watching you do your thing for the Kansas City Chiefs.”

Remembering Vineland

Pacheco was born in Bridgeton and grew up in Vineland. He played youth football for the Vineland Blitz, with whom he generated a buzz about his talents on the field and earned his nickname “Pop“ before he stepped foot on the grass at Gittone Stadium, where the Fighting Clan play their home games.

Playing for Russo, Pacheco continued his winning ways, leading Vineland to its first divisional championship in 32 years in 2017. He was a standout at quarterback and defensive back and was named a Press All-Star multiple times.

He enjoyed a successful career as a running back at Rutgers, and in 2022, was taken by the Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Larry and Regina Glover, decked out in their best Chiefs gear, prayed that spring that Pacheco would be drafted by their favorite team.

“It was a miracle,” Larry said. “When he said on the news (in August 2022, his rookie year) that he’s gonna ‘take a grown man’s job,’ that was exactly what he did!”

The Glovers, whose children went to Vineland High School while Pacheco was there, were among the city volunteers helping out Saturday. They couldn’t miss it, Regina said.

“To see somebody from your hometown go make it big in the NFL and come back and stay humble, that’s just truly amazing,” she said.

Chris Wilson, vice chairman of the Cumberland County Recreation Commission, remembers watching Pacheco play as a kid. He talked about the importance of the city’s youth seeing someone like Pacheco succeed at such a high level.

Following the celebration, Pacheco planned to head to Landis Park, the NFL star having invited the city’s kids to hang out with him.

“Pop is a phenomenal person. Not only does he give back to the community, he loves the kids,” Wilson said.

‘Best is yet to come’

Pacheco’s first two years in the NFL have been nothing short of electric. He established himself as one of the game’s most exciting young backs, grabbing the attention of football fans with his playmaking ability, his “determined” running style, as youth coach Gandalf Sollenberger put it, and his penchant for busting out a dance move in the end zone or on the sidelines.

While his prowess as an athlete has made Pacheco a fan favorite, it’s how he persevered through tragedy while in high school that made him a role model for kids in Cumberland County.

Pacheco’s sister Celeste Cannon, 24, died in 2017 and his brother Travoise Cannon, died in 2016 at 29. He played through the heartbreak in high school and still plays in their memory to this day. He thanked his parents, Julio Pacheco and Felicia Cannon, who sat just to Pacheco’s right as he spoke, the rest of his family, including his late brother and sister, and his friends, coaches and mentors.

“It’s amazing to me that my story put a smile on everyone’s faces and how others find hope to fight, to love, to live their everyday lives,” Pacheco said in his speech.

“... But I couldn’t do this without the city and my family. Y’all know I’ve got your back and your support as well.”

Julio Pacheco, who lived in Cumberland County his entire life after moving here from Puerto Rico, was blown away by the local support for his son Saturday.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” he said. “This is big for him, big for the community. Back-to-back Super Bowl champions his first two years out. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to know it’s real.”

Twice now Pacheco has won the NFL’s ultimate prize, helping the Chiefs win back-to-back Super Bowls, including a dominant performance his rookie year against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. And with a core on the Chiefs that includes star quarterback Patrick Mahomes II and tight end Travis Kelce, there’s little reason to doubt the 25-year-old running back can add more hardware to his trophy case.

“The reality now, you live it, you see it, the old heads have been here and they’ve done that,” Pacheco said. “For the kids, listen to your elders. Give respect to get respect.

“These first two years have been dope, but the best is yet to come.”