Chiefs And Raiders Great Marcus Allen Praises Josh Jacobs And Isiah Pacheco

Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen played for two archrivals — the Chiefs and Raiders.

“People want me to always pick and choose an organization, and I’ll never do that,” Allen exclusively shared. “You build great relationships, and hopefully those relationships are lasting. Hopefully, those relationships are meaningful that go well beyond team colors.”

Sporting Silver and Black and Red and Gold, respectively, both of his former teams have exciting running backs.

The Raiders have the NFL’s leading rusher in Josh Jacobs, and rookie seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco has emerged out of the Chiefs’ running back-by-committee approach to become Kansas City’s bell-cow back.

Perhaps the Raiders’ best back since Allen, Jacobs, who injured his finger during last week’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, has cited Allen as a mentor and chats with him weekly for tips ranging from leadership to pass blocking and goal-line running.

But Allen deflected any credit.

“It’s all him. It’s nothing that I’ve done,” Allen said. “He’s an outstanding back. I just try and continue to encourage him and tell him that great things are ahead if he continues to work hard.”

Allen called Jacobs the “heart and soul” of the Raiders and praised his low center of gravity, physicality, quick feet and his understanding of how to take angles to create separation from defenders.

While Jacobs is in his contract year, the Chiefs have a promising running back in his first year.

Allen said it’s surreal to see someone wearing Tyreek Hill’s former No. 10 jersey but complimented Pacheco’s aggressive, north-and-south style.

“I always look at guys to see how they attack the line of scrimmage,” Allen said. “He’s fearless.”

Allen still watches football closely, but the sport he now plays is golf.

A single-digit handicap, Allen began playing in his 20s but wishes he started as a kid, something that could’ve helped him become an even better golfer.

“Especially after 16 years playing professional football, you would hope your swing could repeat itself,” Allen said. “But sometimes your body isn’t cooperating.”

Allen will participate in the 2023 Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) Tournament of Champions from Jan. 19 to Jan. 22 at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club’s championship golf course in Orlando, Fla.

Televised nationally on NBC and Golf Channel, the annual tournament is one of the LPGA’s most-watched events and serves as the LPGA Tour’s season opener. Celebrities play alongside LPGA golfers, but they compete separately. LPGA participants will compete for $1.5 million in official prize money while celebrities compete for a prize of $500,000.

Allen has played multiple times in the tournament, which started in 2013 and became an official LPGA event in 2019.

Though groupings for this year’s HGV Tournament of Champions haven’t been determined yet, Allen previous played with LPGA stars, including Amy Yang and Brittany Lincicome.

“I learn so much from playing with the women,” Allen said.

Paired with the LPGA golfers, approximately 50 celebrities, including Allen, former NBA All-Star Vince Carter, former NFL wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, former MLB pitchers John Smoltz and Roger Clemens, country music singer Lee Brice, Ant-Man actor Michael Peña, The Office actor Brian Baumgartner and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor Alfonso Ribeiro are slated to play.

The celebrity players compete using a modified Stableford format, where points are awarded per hole and the higher score wins, while the LPGA golfers will play 72 holes of stroke play competition.

“The venue, the people there, the celebrities there, it’s just one of the best tournaments around, and I’m just glad to be a part of it,” Allen said. “I’m really excited.”

Allen also enjoys going to both Chiefs and Raiders games. He was on the sidelines for the Raiders’ loss to the Indianapolis Colts and attended two Chiefs contests at Arrowhead Stadium this year.

He went to the Buffalo Bills game as part of a charity function and the Legends Game against the Tennessee Titans, in which the man who blocked for him, fullback Kimble Anders, was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame.

“I went back to support him,” Allen said. “I enjoyed my time in Kansas City — what an incredible fanbase and what an incredible organization.”