Jamaal Charles facts for kids
Charles in 2023
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | December 27, 1986 Port Arthur, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 199 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Memorial (Port Arthur) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Texas (2005–2007) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2008 / Round: 3 / Pick: 73 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Jamaal RaShaad Jones Charles (born December 27, 1986) is a former American football player. He was a running back for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Most of his career was spent with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Charles played college football for the Texas Longhorns. He helped them win the 2006 Rose Bowl and a national championship. The Chiefs picked him in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft.
He started as a backup player. But in his second year, 2009, he became a star. He rushed for over 1,100 yards. After that, he became the Chiefs' main running back. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl four times and made the All-Pro team twice. In 2013, he led the league in rushing touchdowns. Later in his career, injuries slowed him down. He then played for the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jamaal Charles holds an NFL record for the highest average yards per carry. He gained 5.4 yards every time he ran with the ball, among players with at least 1,000 carries.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
As a child, Jamaal Charles had a learning disability. He found reading difficult and was sometimes teased. In 2015, he shared his story. He said that when he was 10, he got a chance to compete in the Special Olympics. This experience helped him discover how fast he was. He won a gold medal in track and field. This moment showed him his hidden talent.
Charles went to Memorial High School in Port Arthur, Texas. He was a fantastic high school football player. In his junior year, he ran for over 2,000 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. He led his team deep into the playoffs. He was named first-team all-state.
In his senior year, he again rushed for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. He was named to the Parade All-America Football Team. Charles also won the Willie Ray Smith Award twice. This award goes to the best offensive player in southeast Texas.
College Career
Track and Field Success
Charles was also a great track athlete in high school. He won a bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2003 World Youth Championships. In his senior year, he won two state championships in hurdles.
In college, he continued running track. In 2006, he finished fourth in the NCAA 60-meter indoor championship. He also won the Big 12 100-meter title. At the NCAA outdoor competition, he placed fifth in the 100 meters and seventh in the 200 meters. He was part of the Texas Longhorn relay team that finished fifth. Charles became a four-time All-American in college track.
Personal Bests in Running
| Event | Time (seconds) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 meters | 6.65 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | March 10, 2006 |
| 100 meters | 10.13 | Austin, Texas | May 27, 2006 |
| 200 meters | 20.62 | Austin, Texas | April 22, 2006 |
College Football Highlights
Jamaal Charles played college football for the University of Texas from 2005 to 2007. His coach was Mack Brown.
Freshman Year (2005)
As a freshman, Charles quickly made an impact. He shared the backfield with star quarterback Vince Young. In his first game, he rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown. He had several other big games, including 189 yards and three touchdowns against Rice. Texas had a perfect season, going 11–0. They won the Big 12 Championship. Then, they played in the 2006 Rose Bowl for the National Championship against the USC Trojans. Texas won 41–38, becoming national champions.
Charles finished his freshman year with 878 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged an amazing 7.4 yards per carry.
Sophomore Year (2006)
In 2006, Charles continued to play well. He rushed for 831 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught a 72-yard touchdown pass in the 2006 Alamo Bowl. Texas won that game 26–24.
Junior Year (2007)
Before the 2007 season, many thought Charles would have a huge year. He was known for his incredible speed. He rushed for 1,619 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He scored 18 rushing touchdowns.
One of his best games was against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He rushed for 290 yards, which was the fourth-highest total in Texas Longhorns history. He also had 216 yards in just the fourth quarter of that game.
After his junior year, Charles decided to leave college early to join the NFL. He had said he would only go pro if he was expected to be a first-round pick. Even though he left early, Charles ranked fourth in total rushing yards for a Texas player.
College Statistics
| Jamaal Charles | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | TD |
| 2005 | Texas | 13 | 119 | 878 | 7.4 | 11 | 14 | 157 | 2 |
| 2006 | Texas | 12 | 156 | 831 | 5.3 | 7 | 18 | 183 | 1 |
| 2007 | Texas | 13 | 258 | 1,619 | 6.3 | 18 | 17 | 199 | 0 |
| Total | 38 | 533 | 3,328 | 6.2 | 36 | 49 | 539 | 3 | |
Professional Career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
32+1⁄8 in (0.82 m) |
8+3⁄4 in (0.22 m) |
4.38 s | 1.53 s | 2.56 s | 4.22 s | 6.80 s | 30+1⁄2 in (0.77 m) |
10 ft 2 in (3.10 m) |
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| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Kansas City Chiefs Years
The Kansas City Chiefs picked Jamaal Charles in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. He was the ninth running back chosen that year.
Rookie Season (2008)
In his first NFL season, Charles was a backup player. He rushed for 357 yards and caught 27 passes for 272 yards. He scored his first NFL touchdown on a 36-yard catch.
Breakout Year (2009)
Charles's second season was his breakout year. The Chiefs' main running back was released, and Charles became the starter. He rushed for 1,120 yards, even though he only started 10 games. He scored his first rushing touchdown this year. He also returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. This earned him the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award. In Week 17, he set a Chiefs record by rushing for 259 yards in one game. He became one of only four NFL players to rush for over 250 yards while averaging more than 10 yards per carry.
Star Player (2010-2014)
In 2010, Charles continued to shine. He rushed for 1,467 yards and five touchdowns. He also had 45 catches for 468 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl. His average of 6.38 yards per carry was one of the highest in NFL history. The Chiefs gave him a big contract. He was ranked as the 33rd best player in the NFL by his fellow players.
In 2011, Charles's season was cut short. He suffered a serious knee injury (ACL tear) in Week 2 and missed the rest of the year.
He made a strong comeback in 2012. He rushed for 1,509 yards and five touchdowns. He had a career-high 233 rushing yards in one game. He also set a Chiefs record with a 91-yard touchdown run. Charles broke Jim Brown's 47-year-old NFL record for career average yards per carry. He was named to his second Pro Bowl.
The 2013 season was another amazing year for Charles. He scored at least one touchdown in his first seven games. In one incredible game against the Oakland Raiders, he scored five touchdowns! Four were receiving touchdowns and one was a rushing touchdown. He was the first NFL player ever to have four receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in a single game. He led the league with 12 rushing touchdowns. He finished the season with 1,287 rushing yards and 693 receiving yards. He was named First-team All-Pro and made his third Pro Bowl. He was ranked the 8th best player in the NFL.
In 2014, Charles signed a new contract. He became the Chiefs' all-time leading rusher, passing Priest Holmes. He rushed for 1,033 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 40 catches for 291 yards and five receiving touchdowns. He was chosen for his fourth Pro Bowl.
Injuries and Later Career (2015-2018)
In 2015, Charles suffered another ACL tear in his right knee. This injury ended his season early. He was still ranked among the top 100 players despite the injury.
In 2016, Charles struggled to recover from his knee injury. He played in only three games before needing another knee surgery. He was then released by the Chiefs.
In 2017, Charles signed with the Denver Broncos. He played in 14 games, rushing for 296 yards and one touchdown.
In 2018, he had a short time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, playing in two games before being released.
Retirement
On May 1, 2019, Jamaal Charles officially retired from the NFL. He signed a special one-day contract with the Chiefs to retire as a member of the team. He even took a ceremonial "last carry" from quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In 2020, Charles was inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor. In 2023, he was nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| NFL record (for a Running Back) | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Kick returns | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2008 | KC | 16 | 2 | 67 | 357 | 5.3 | 30 | 0 | 27 | 272 | 10.1 | 75 | 1 | 15 | 321 | 21.4 | 40 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2009 | KC | 15 | 10 | 190 | 1,120 | 5.9 | 76T | 7 | 40 | 297 | 7.4 | 49 | 1 | 36 | 925 | 25.7 | 97T | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| 2010 | KC | 16 | 6 | 230 | 1,467 | 6.4 | 80 | 5 | 45 | 468 | 10.4 | 31 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 |
| 2011 | KC | 2 | 1 | 12 | 83 | 6.9 | 24 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 1.8 | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | KC | 16 | 15 | 285 | 1,509 | 5.3 | 91T | 5 | 35 | 236 | 6.7 | 22 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 |
| 2013 | KC | 15 | 15 | 259 | 1,287 | 5.0 | 46 | 12 | 70 | 693 | 9.9 | 71 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 |
| 2014 | KC | 15 | 15 | 206 | 1,033 | 5.0 | 63T | 9 | 40 | 291 | 7.3 | 30 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 |
| 2015 | KC | 5 | 5 | 71 | 364 | 5.1 | 34T | 4 | 21 | 177 | 8.4 | 26 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 |
| 2016 | KC | 3 | 0 | 12 | 40 | 3.3 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | DEN | 14 | 0 | 69 | 296 | 4.3 | 19 | 1 | 23 | 129 | 5.6 | 20 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | JAX | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1.2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 119 | 69 | 1,407 | 7,563 | 5.4 | 91T | 44 | 310 | 2,593 | 8.4 | 75 | 51 | 1,246 | 24.4 | 97T | 1 | 29 | 20 | ||
Playoffs
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2010 | KC | 1 | 0 | 9 | 82 | 9.1 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | KC | 1 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 6.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | KC | 0 | 0 | did not play due to injury | |||||||||||
| 2016 | KC | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Career | 2 | 1 | 12 | 100 | 8.3 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Records and Achievements
NFL Records
- Most receiving touchdowns by a running back in a single game: 4 (2013)
- Highest career yards-per-carry among running backs (at least 1,000 attempts): 5.4
Kansas City Chiefs Records
- Longest rushing play from scrimmage: 91 yards (2013, tied)
- Most career rushing yards: 7,260
- Most rushing yards in a single game: 259 (2010)
- Most receiving touchdowns in a game: 4 (2013, tied)
Awards and Honors
NFL
- 2× First-team All-Pro (2010, 2013)
- Second-team All-Pro (2012)
- 4× Pro Bowl (2010, 2012–2014)
- NFL rushing touchdowns leader (2013)
College
- BCS national champion (2005)
- Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2005)
- First-team All-Big 12 (2007)
- Second-team All-Big 12 (2005)
