​We are 67 days away from the Kansas City Chiefs’ season-opening game against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football in Week 1. The No. 67 jersey has not been worn in Kansas City since offensive tackle Lucas Niang last wore it in 2022, but it carries a legacy tied to a memorable figure in Chiefs history. After being drafted second overall by the Chiefs out of the University of Kentucky, Still started every game right away and earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors by his third NFL season. Over the course of his career, he would accumulate four Pro Bowl selections and two second-team All-Pro honors, shining during a period that some fans describe as a dormant era for the franchise. He went on to play for the Buffalo Bills for two seasons before retiring and was eventually inducted into the Chiefs Ring of Honor in 1998.
Looking at the season-long grading from Pro Football Focus, there was a slight uptick compared with Pacheco’s 2024 “run” grade of 65.2, a number affected by an early-season leg injury. Among the 49 NFL running backs who carried the ball 100 times last season, Pacheco ranked 47th in “run” grade. In the 2023 season, Pacheco posted an 80.2 “run” grade, the best of his career, but according to PFF’s grading system, his performance has not matched that peak in subsequent years, a trend that lines up with what many Chiefs fans have observed with their eyes.
The Chiefs have clearly missed top-tier talent at the running back position, prompting a wave of speculation about potential upgrades. One name that has surfaced as a possible game-changer for Kansas City’s offense is Kenneth Walker, who some analysts believe could help address the team’s needs at the position. As fans and experts weigh options for boosting the ground game, the question remains whether Walker—or another complementary back—could provide the spark the Chiefs are seeking to restore balance and explosiveness to their offense in 2024 and beyond.
In this context, the club’s timing, optics, and roster decisions ahead of Week 1 will be closely watched. The return of a prominent past wearer of No. 67, the ongoing evaluation of current backs, and the potential addition of high-impact talent will all factor into how Kansas City approaches its running back corps this season. With the season approaching, all eyes will be on how the Chiefs address the gap at running back, the performance of their established nucleus, and the potential for a rejuvenated attack that can rise to meet the competition in a loaded AFC.