GRIDIRON GROUND GAME: Inside the Kansas City Chiefs’ Running Back Room Ahead of Training Camp — Who Will Emerge as RB1 in 2025?
The Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2025 NFL season with lofty expectations once again, riding the wave of multiple Super Bowl victories and the continued brilliance of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Yet while Mahomes and the passing attack continue to dominate headlines, a closer look at the team’s running back room reveals a fascinating, competitive, and potentially pivotal storyline that could shape how the offense evolves during the upcoming campaign. With training camp just around the corner, the position group is stocked with a blend of veteran experience, youthful upside, and strategic uncertainty that makes the battle for touches more intriguing than ever. The question hanging over the franchise isn’t just who will start, but what style of ground game will complement their high-octane aerial assault.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, once drafted in the first round to be the future of the Chiefs’ backfield, has had a rollercoaster journey since arriving in Kansas City. Plagued by injuries and inconsistency, his flashes of brilliance have too often been offset by stretches of irrelevance. Still, he enters this preseason with something to prove. Playing on a prove-it contract after the Chiefs declined his fifth-year option, Edwards-Helaire has trimmed down and recommitted to becoming a reliable contributor. He’s no longer guaranteed a featured role, but he could carve out a niche if he recaptures the form he showed during his rookie season when he burst onto the scene with 138 rushing yards in his debut. His experience within Andy Reid’s complex offense gives him a leg up in understanding the system, but whether that translates to significant snaps will depend on how well he performs when the pads come on.
Isiah Pacheco, on the other hand, has become a fan favorite and a coaching staff darling thanks to his physicality, relentless energy, and north-south running style. Drafted in the seventh round, Pacheco has far exceeded expectations, especially during Kansas City’s recent Super Bowl runs. His aggressive demeanor and ability to gain tough yards make him the de facto starter heading into camp, but even his role isn’t set in stone. Durability concerns linger, and there’s some question about whether he can handle a true workhorse load over a 17-game season and beyond. However, there’s no denying his production. In two years, he’s accumulated nearly 2,000 rushing yards, multiple touchdowns, and a reputation for being one of the toughest backs to bring down after first contact. The Chiefs will undoubtedly rely on Pacheco, but how heavily they lean on him depends on the depth and development of the rest of the unit.
La’Mical Perine may not be a household name, but he offers an intriguing veteran presence with a skillset that meshes well with Kansas City’s offensive approach. Signed to the practice squad and elevated late last season, Perine showed enough in limited opportunities to remain in the mix. He’s a versatile back who can catch passes out of the backfield and contribute on special teams, a vital aspect of Reid’s roster construction. While he isn’t expected to contend for the starting role, his steady play could earn him a situational or third-down spot, especially if injuries mount. Training camp and preseason action will determine if he solidifies a spot on the 53-man roster, but his football IQ and positional flexibility could keep him employed in Kansas City longer than some might expect.
Perhaps the most intriguing back on the roster is rookie Keilan Robinson, the former Alabama and Texas standout who brings elite speed and kick-return potential to the table. Undrafted but not unnoticed, Robinson represents the kind of gadget player Reid has historically thrived with. He’s already drawing comparisons to the likes of Dexter McCluster and De’Anthony Thomas—small, explosive, and dangerous in space. What Robinson lacks in size he makes up for with raw quickness and the ability to turn short passes or jet sweeps into big gains. His path to playing time may be through special teams initially, but if he impresses during camp, don’t be surprised to see the coaching staff find creative ways to get the ball in his hands. With the Chiefs always looking for mismatches and misdirection, a player like Robinson could be an X-factor that becomes more than just a preseason storyline.
Deneric Prince, entering his second year with the Chiefs after being stashed on the practice squad, is another name to watch. His powerful running style and improved pass protection have reportedly turned heads during offseason workouts. At 6-foot, 219 pounds, Prince brings a physicality that could complement Pacheco well, especially in short-yardage or goal-line situations. While he remains a long shot to leapfrog into a significant role, his blend of size and agility makes him a strong candidate for a depth role if he performs consistently throughout camp. His familiarity with the team’s culture and expectations also gives him a leg up over other fringe backs trying to make the cut.
The Chiefs’ running back room is not just a battle of individual skill—it’s a microcosm of larger questions about offensive identity. Kansas City has long been viewed as a pass-first team, and rightfully so with Mahomes at the helm. However, last season revealed a growing emphasis on ball control, time of possession, and a more balanced attack, especially late in the year when weather and defensive matchups dictated a more physical style of play. Pacheco became the engine of several fourth-quarter drives that sealed games. The evolution of the Chiefs’ offense may hinge on who else can step up to provide consistency and reliability when Mahomes doesn’t have to do it all through the air.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy will also have a major say in how the backs are deployed. Entering his second year in his return to Kansas City’s staff, Nagy must find the right combination of power, speed, and creativity in the run game to keep defenses honest. Training camp will be the laboratory where those combinations are tested. From inside zone to outside stretch plays, to screen passes and swing routes, the backs who show versatility and a grasp of blocking assignments will rise in the pecking order. Blitz pickup, an underrated but critical skill, will separate those who can play on third downs from those who can’t. In a Mahomes-led offense, keeping the quarterback upright is priority number one, and any back who falters in protection will likely find themselves out of the rotation quickly.
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub will also play a role in determining who stays and who goes. With roster spots at a premium, return ability and kickoff coverage will factor into final decisions. Players like Robinson and even Prince could find themselves locked in a tight battle, not just for carries but for a jersey on Sundays. Past Chiefs rosters have shown that special teams excellence can be the difference for fringe players, and this year will be no different.
One variable worth watching is how the offensive line develops. With new additions on the interior and high expectations for the tackle duo of Jawaan Taylor and Kingsley Suamataia, the run-blocking schemes could evolve to better suit a physical downhill approach. A stronger offensive line would open more opportunities for the backs to exploit defenses focused on stopping Mahomes. If the Chiefs find early success pounding the ball, the entire playbook opens up, and the value of the running backs increases exponentially.
As with any preseason, injuries will likely impact how things shake out. Last season saw multiple backs miss time, and the Chiefs have emphasized depth at the position for precisely that reason. With a 17-game grind and aspirations for a deep playoff run, no back is likely to carry the full load, making committee usage all but inevitable. The question is: who will earn the lion’s share of the touches, and who will be trusted in crunch time?
The Chiefs’ running back situation heading into camp is less about having a superstar and more about identifying the right mix of roles and responsibilities. Pacheco remains the presumed lead, but Edwards-Helaire, Perine, Prince, and Robinson each bring something unique to the table. The competition will be fierce, the reps limited, and the pressure high—but so are the stakes. With Super Bowl aspirations once again on the horizon, Kansas City can’t afford to mismanage its ground game.
The coming weeks will reveal more about how this backfield will take shape, but one thing is certain: the spotlight may shine brightest on Mahomes, Kelce, and the high-flying offense, but the success of the 2025 Chiefs could quietly depend on the men behind the line of scrimmage. Whether it’s Pacheco barreling through tacklers, Robinson zipping past defenders, or a surprise breakout from the depths of the depth chart, the Kansas City ground game is poised to play a far more critical role than many anticipate. The battle begins in camp, but its impact could stretch all the way to February.
