Why Isiah Pacheco Prays Before Every Game—The Untold Story of His Fallen Siblings !

For Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, football is more than just a game—it’s a tribute to the two siblings he lost far too soon. Before every matchup, under the roar of the stadium lights, Pacheco bows his head in quiet prayer. It’s a deeply personal ritual, one rooted in heartbreak, remembrance, and love.

Born in Vineland, New Jersey, Pacheco is the youngest of five siblings. His family was tight-knit, but tragedy would shatter that bond during his teenage years. In 2016, his older brother, Travoise Cannon, was murdered. Years earlier, his beloved sister, Celeste Cannon, had also been killed. The devastating losses came while Pacheco was still in high school, and they left emotional scars that never fully healed.

Yet from that pain, Pacheco found purpose.

In a 2019 interview with NJ.com, he shared, “My brother—if he could see me now, he’d be proud. He encouraged me to play football, but he never got the chance to see me play at this level.” He echoed that same sense of longing when talking about his sister, telling The Press of Atlantic City in 2017, “I think about my sister every day… I miss her so much.”

These quiet words reveal a powerful truth: Isiah Pacheco carries his siblings with him every time he steps onto the field. Each yard he gains, each touchdown he scores, is dedicated to their memory. Before every game, Pacheco kneels to pray—not for victory, but for connection. “I say a few words for my sister and brother,” he told reporters, “and for a few others I’ve lost along the way.”

Pacheco’s journey from Rutgers to becoming a Super Bowl champion in just his first two seasons with the Chiefs is remarkable on its own. But behind the explosive plays and relentless running style is a young man fueled by grief and guided by love. He’s not just playing for a team—he’s playing for the brother and sister who never got to see him shine under the bright lights of the NFL.

“I play football because of them,” he once said, and those words carry the weight of every step he takes.

In a league full of stars, Isiah Pacheco stands out not just for his speed, but for the story he brings to every game—a story of loss, love, and the unbreakable bond of family.