KC Reporter

The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for their upcoming training camp, which will take place in St. Joseph in less than a month. As part of the preparations, the team is evaluating each position group on the roster, starting with the running backs.

The Chiefs currently have six running backs vying for positions. Among them are returning players Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and Carson Steele. The remaining players include Elijah Mitchell, Brashard Smith, and Elijah Young.

Isiah Pacheco had a promising start as the lead tailback in 2024 but was sidelined by an ankle injury after Week 2. Despite this setback, he managed to record 310 rushing yards and one touchdown on 83 carries last season. With nearly a year since his injury, Pacheco aims to regain his form from his first two NFL seasons when he rushed for 1,765 yards over 31 games.

Kareem Hunt led the team in several rushing categories last year despite joining late in Week 4. He finished with 728 rushing yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season and added more during the postseason. Hunt's contributions were crucial in stabilizing the team's offense after Pacheco's early departure due to injury.

Carson Steele made an impression as an undrafted free agent last year and played all 17 games while also contributing on special teams. Before joining the Chiefs, Steele excelled at Ball State and UCLA with notable rushing performances.

Elijah Mitchell joined the Chiefs this offseason after four years with the San Francisco 49ers. His time there was marked by injuries that limited his playtime. However, he demonstrated potential as Christian McCaffrey's backup in 2023 before another injury ended his next campaign prematurely.

Brashard Smith switched from wide receiver to running back before being drafted by Kansas City in 2025. He had a standout season at SMU with significant rushing and receiving stats alongside impressive kick return yardage.

Elijah Young is another new addition as an undrafted rookie who transferred from Missouri to Western Kentucky where he led his team in rushing over two seasons.

As training camp approaches, competition among these players will determine who secures spots behind presumed lead tailbacks Pacheco and Hunt. Smith’s versatility may earn him one of those spots if he maintains strong performance through camp while Mitchell, Steele, and Young vie for any remaining openings.

The Chiefs have historically kept up to four running backs on their roster; thus multiple strong performances could influence final decisions regarding lineup configurations ahead of Week 1.