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Vineland High School and Rutgers University alum, Isiah Pacheco, is set to be celebrated with a parade in his hometown of Vineland, New Jersey, on April 20th. The Kansas City Chiefs running back, also known as "Pop", will be honored for his impressive contribution to the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
The parade, dubbed the "Parade for Pop", will kick off at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Fourth and Landis. It will then proceed east to City Hall, where a rally will take place. This is the second annual parade for Pacheco, following his successful rookie season that ended with a Super Bowl win.
Pacheco, who played with the Vineland Blitz Football in a youth league before moving on to play quarterback and defensive back for Vineland High School, helped lead the school to its first divisional championship in over three decades in 2017. He then earned a scholarship to play at Rutgers and caught the attention of the Chiefs during his time with the Scarlet Knights. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft and became a key part of Kansas City's offense.
In the Chiefs' 25-22 overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, Pacheco rushed for 59 yards on 18 carries with an average of 3.3 yards per carry. The parade will not only honor Pacheco's achievements but also serve as a celebration of his journey from a local youth league to the grand stage of the Super Bowl.
Last year's parade saw hundreds of supporters, including residents, former coaches, and dignitaries, lining the streets. Members of the football teams, cheerleading squads, and marching bands of Vineland High School and Rutgers University, his alma maters, accompanied Pacheco on the parade route. This year's event is expected to draw a similar crowd, all eager to celebrate their hometown hero's continued success.