Jamaal Charles
Encyclopedia
Jamaal RaShaad Jones Charles (born December 27, 1987 in Port Arthur, Texas
) is an American football
running back
for the Kansas City Chiefs
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Texas
.
Charles' first year as a Chief was hardly in the spotlight; as a backup to halfback
Larry Johnson, Charles rushed only 67 times for 357 yards. His breakout season came the following year. In his second year, Charles rushed 190 times for 1,120 yards, despite only starting 10 games after running back Larry Johnson was suspended. Shortly thereafter, Johnson was released, leaving Charles as Kansas City's starting halfback.
of Port Arthur, Texas
to the 5A Division II quarterfinals. He was named first team all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association and second team all-state by the Associated Press
.
Charles followed up his stellar junior season by rushing for 2,056 yards and 25 touchdowns his senior year. The Associated Press named him to their first team all-state squad and he was declared the Houston Chronicle
area offensive MVP. Charles was also named to the 2005 Parade
All-America Football Team and was the District 22-5A Player of the Year both his junior and senior year. Charles participated in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
.
He is a two-time recipient of the Willie Ray Smith Award, which is given to the southeast Texas offensive MVP.
In the summer between his sophomore and junior years, Charles won the bronze medal in the 400m hurdles
at the 2003 World Youth Championships in Athletics
. He went on to win the 110m hurdles
and 300m hurdles Texas 5A state championships with times of 13.69 and 36.03 seconds, respectively, his senior year.
In his true freshman season with the 2005 Texas Longhorn football team
, Charles rushed 119 times for 878 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 7.4 yards per carry, and assisting his team in winning a national championship
.
After a disappointing performance in his sophomore campaign
, where Charles did not reach the 1,000 yards rushing mark, Charles opted not to participate in track so he could focus on getting bigger for football.
In the summer prior to the 2007 season
some observers believed he was the fastest college running back in the up-coming season. CBS SportsLine said, "Track star Jamaal Charles has the potential at running back to enjoy a break-out season and possesses the kind of breakaway speed that lead to an 80-yard rush and a 70-yard catch last season." Athlon Sports remarked, "Over the last two years, running back Jamaal Charles has run for 1,702 yards at 6.2 yards per carry with 18 touchdowns despite starting only four games. He has the job to himself and should have a breakout year."
With the 2007 Texas Longhorn football team
, Charles rushed for over 1,400 yards, with an average of more than six yards per carry. Early in the season, Mack Brown
and Greg Davis hinted that Jamaal Charles could face less playing time as a result of his fumbling problems. Charles says that he feels a deep remorse over his fumbles and feels that he is the biggest reason the team lost to the Oklahoma Sooners
in the 2007 Red River Shootout. Texas running backs coach Ken Rucker and former Longhorn running back Earl Campbell
have both worked with Charles on his ball handling. Greg Davis said he wants to get the ball to Charles "in space", on pitches and passes, instead of in heavy traffic up the center.
On October 28, 2007, Charles rushed for 290 yards, the most ever against the Nebraska Cornhuskers
and the fourth-highest total in Texas Longhorns history. His 216 yards in the fourth quarter were just six shy of the NCAA record for a single quarter set by the University of Washington Huskies
's Corey Dillon
in 1996. For these accomplishments, Charles won a fan vote for AT&T All-America Player of the Week.
Charles decided to forgo his senior season with Texas in favor of joining the NFL as a professional football player in the 2008 NFL Draft
. This decision came after earlier statements that he would stay with Texas. In November Jamaal Charles said he would return for his senior season rather than enter professional football in the NFL. Sources reported in December 2007 that Charles and fellow Longhorn Jermichael Finley
had filed paperwork with the NFL to evaluate how high they might be drafted if they decided enter professional football in the NFL Draft instead of returning for their senior season. Mack Brown did not comment about specific players but said, "We always try to help our guys get as much information as possible when it comes to the NFL. We encourage and help them go through the process... All of our underclassmen have told us they will be coming back, but if you're playing well enough to be considered an NFL prospect, going through the process can only help you better understand it and realize what you need to work on to improve your status." Charles said he would not go pro unless he was predicted to be chosen in the first round of the draft. After the 2007 Holiday Bowl
Charles said, "Right now, I’m probably coming back. I didn’t think I did that good in the game. Next year maybe I’ll be up for the Heisman. I will come back." From 2000–2007 the Longhorns have had seven players taken in the Top 10 draft picks by the NFL, more than any other school. On January 2 Charles announced he received and was happy with the results of his draft evaluation and that he would declare for the draft.
Despite skipping his senior year, Charles ranks fourth in the list of total-rushing yards by a UT player, behind Ricky Williams
, Cedric Benson
, and Earl Campbell
, with 3,328 yards. Williams and Campbell each won the Heisman Trophy
in their senior season.
.
In Charles first professional football game, he rushed for 28 yards on 5 carries against the New England Patriots
. He also recorded two catches for six yards. The Chiefs would go on to lose the game 17–10.
In Charles first professional season he ended with 357 yards rushing and 272 yards receiving, but what was most impressive in his rookie season was his 5.3 yard per carry average. In week 9 of the 2008 season with Larry Johnson out, Charles was given the bulk of the carries and managed 106 yards on 18 carries against Tampa Bay. In week 16 of the 2008 season Charles managed to go over 100 yards receiving with 3 catches for 102 yards against Miami.
, Larry Johnson was released and Charles was promoted to first-string but split carries with Kolby Smith. In his limited action Charles managed 36 yards on only 6 carries for a 6 yard per carry average. During Week 10 of the 2009 NFL season
, Charles ran for 103 yards on 18 carries including a 44 yard TD run, the Chiefs first rushing TD of the year. In week 11 of the 2009 NFL season
, against the Pittsburgh Steelers
, Charles returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. He went on to rush for 58 yards and also had had a 2 yard reception for a touchdown. The Chiefs won the game 27–24
in overtime. Charles was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In week 14 of the 2009 NFL Season, against the Buffalo Bills
, Charles ran for a 76 yard touchdown,one of the longest runs in Chiefs history. In week 17 of the 2009 NFL Season, on the road against the Denver Broncos
, Charles rushed for 259 yards on 25 carries, scoring 2 touchdowns and breaking the Chiefs' single-game rushing record. The Chiefs won 44–24. Charles also became the only player in NFL history to rush for 1,100 or more yards in 200 or fewer carries. He also became the only running back in NFL history to rush average 6.1 yards per carry, run 1000 yards and catch 40 balls.
Jim Brown
, only two one-hundredths of a yard off of the record pace set by the Browns
legend. On December 11, 2010, the Chiefs reached an agreement with Charles on a five-year, $32.5 million deal that includes $13 million guaranteed. In the 2011 Pro Bowl, Charles rushed for 72-yards on 10 carries and scored one touchdown. Charles was honored for his performance in the 2010 season by being selected to his first AP All-Pro team. On NFL Networks Top 100 players of 2011, Charles was ranked the 33rd by his fellow players and was also one of the youngest players on the list.
, Charles rushed for 56 yards on 10 carries. The following week, against the Detroit Lions, Charles suffered an ACL injury. Chiefs head coach Todd Haley
confirmed the next day, that he will miss the remainder of the 2011 season. Charles was officially placed on injured reserve on September 19.
Port Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Texas
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
.
Charles' first year as a Chief was hardly in the spotlight; as a backup to halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
Larry Johnson, Charles rushed only 67 times for 357 yards. His breakout season came the following year. In his second year, Charles rushed 190 times for 1,120 yards, despite only starting 10 games after running back Larry Johnson was suspended. Shortly thereafter, Johnson was released, leaving Charles as Kansas City's starting halfback.
Early years
In his junior year, Charles ran for 2,051 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading Memorial High SchoolMemorial High School (Port Arthur, Texas)
Memorial High School is a public, co-educational secondary school located in Port Arthur, Texas, United States. It was established in August 2002 after a merger of Thomas Jefferson High , Abraham Lincoln High and Stephen F. Austin High . Since then, Memorial High has been the only high school in...
of Port Arthur, Texas
Port Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
to the 5A Division II quarterfinals. He was named first team all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association and second team all-state by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
.
Charles followed up his stellar junior season by rushing for 2,056 yards and 25 touchdowns his senior year. The Associated Press named him to their first team all-state squad and he was declared the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
area offensive MVP. Charles was also named to the 2005 Parade
Parade (magazine)
Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70...
All-America Football Team and was the District 22-5A Player of the Year both his junior and senior year. Charles participated in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
.
He is a two-time recipient of the Willie Ray Smith Award, which is given to the southeast Texas offensive MVP.
In the summer between his sophomore and junior years, Charles won the bronze medal in the 400m hurdles
400 metres hurdles
The 400 metres hurdles is an Olympic athletics event in track and field. On a standard outdoor track 400 metres is the length of the inside lane once around the stadium. Runners stay in their lane the entire way after starting out of the blocks and must clear ten hurdles that are evenly...
at the 2003 World Youth Championships in Athletics
2003 World Youth Championships in Athletics
The 2003 World Youth Championships in Athletics is the 2003 version of the World Youth Championships in Athletics. It was held in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada from the 9th to the 13th of July.-Boys:-Girls:-Medals table:-External links:*...
. He went on to win the 110m hurdles
110 metres hurdles
The 110 metres hurdles is a hurdling track and field event for men. It is incuded in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympic Games. The female counterpart is the 100 metre hurdles. As part of a racing event, ten hurdles of 1.067 metres in height are evenly spaced along a straight...
and 300m hurdles Texas 5A state championships with times of 13.69 and 36.03 seconds, respectively, his senior year.
Track
On March 11, 2006, Charles placed fourth in the NCAA 60-meter indoor track and field championship finals. On May 14, 2006 Charles captured his first conference title and the third Big 12 100-meter title for Texas by winning the event in 10.23 at the Big 12 outdoor meet. He led the 200 meter race after the preliminary round but elected not to participate in the final, as Texas had the Big 12 team title well in hand. On June 10, at the NCAA outdoor competition, Charles took a fifth in the 100 meter finals, edging out UTEP's stand-out sprinter Churandy Martina (sixth place), who earlier in the year ran a 9.76 (wind-aided) 100-meters. Charles also placed seventh in the 200 meter finals, and ran the third leg of the 4 x 100 Texas Longhorn relay team, earning a fifth place in the finals. Charles' efforts helped the Longhorns earn a third place showing for the men's track and field team, the highest since a second place finish at the 1997 NCAA finals. Thus, Charles completed his first collegiate track season as a four-time All-American (60m indoor, 100m outdoor, 200m outdoor, 4x100m relay outdoor).Football
2005 Texas Longhorn football team
The 2005 Texas Longhorn football team represented the University of Texas at Austin during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season, winning the Big 12 Conference championship and the national championship. The team was coached by Mack Brown, led on offense by quarterback Vince Young, and played...
, Charles rushed 119 times for 878 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 7.4 yards per carry, and assisting his team in winning a national championship
National championship
A national championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest in a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best team, individual in a particular nation and in a particular field...
.
After a disappointing performance in his sophomore campaign
2006 Texas Longhorn football team
The 2006 Texas Longhorn football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head football coach was Mack Brown, who received the 2006 Paul "Bear" Bryant Award for "Coach of the Year". The Longhorns play their home games in...
, where Charles did not reach the 1,000 yards rushing mark, Charles opted not to participate in track so he could focus on getting bigger for football.
In the summer prior to the 2007 season
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...
some observers believed he was the fastest college running back in the up-coming season. CBS SportsLine said, "Track star Jamaal Charles has the potential at running back to enjoy a break-out season and possesses the kind of breakaway speed that lead to an 80-yard rush and a 70-yard catch last season." Athlon Sports remarked, "Over the last two years, running back Jamaal Charles has run for 1,702 yards at 6.2 yards per carry with 18 touchdowns despite starting only four games. He has the job to himself and should have a breakout year."
With the 2007 Texas Longhorn football team
2007 Texas Longhorn football team
The 2007 Texas Longhorn football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Mack Brown, who received the 2005 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award...
, Charles rushed for over 1,400 yards, with an average of more than six yards per carry. Early in the season, Mack Brown
Mack Brown
William Mack Brown is head coach of The University of Texas at Austin Longhorn football team.Prior to his head coach position at Texas, Brown was head coach at Appalachian State, Tulane, and North Carolina. Brown is credited with revitalizing the Texas and North Carolina football programs...
and Greg Davis hinted that Jamaal Charles could face less playing time as a result of his fumbling problems. Charles says that he feels a deep remorse over his fumbles and feels that he is the biggest reason the team lost to the Oklahoma Sooners
2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2007-2008, winning the Big 12 Conference Championship for the fifth time in eight years. The team was led by head coach Bob Stoops...
in the 2007 Red River Shootout. Texas running backs coach Ken Rucker and former Longhorn running back Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
have both worked with Charles on his ball handling. Greg Davis said he wants to get the ball to Charles "in space", on pitches and passes, instead of in heavy traffic up the center.
On October 28, 2007, Charles rushed for 290 yards, the most ever against the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
and the fourth-highest total in Texas Longhorns history. His 216 yards in the fourth quarter were just six shy of the NCAA record for a single quarter set by the University of Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
's Corey Dillon
Corey Dillon
Corey James Dillon is a former American football running back. He played his ten-season career for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots, wearing jersey number 28 for both teams. Dillon played college football the University of Washington where he wore the number 4.-High school...
in 1996. For these accomplishments, Charles won a fan vote for AT&T All-America Player of the Week.
Charles decided to forgo his senior season with Texas in favor of joining the NFL as a professional football player in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. This decision came after earlier statements that he would stay with Texas. In November Jamaal Charles said he would return for his senior season rather than enter professional football in the NFL. Sources reported in December 2007 that Charles and fellow Longhorn Jermichael Finley
Jermichael Finley
-Green Bay Packers:Finley was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He battled Tory Humphrey in training camp to be the Packers' No. 2 tight end...
had filed paperwork with the NFL to evaluate how high they might be drafted if they decided enter professional football in the NFL Draft instead of returning for their senior season. Mack Brown did not comment about specific players but said, "We always try to help our guys get as much information as possible when it comes to the NFL. We encourage and help them go through the process... All of our underclassmen have told us they will be coming back, but if you're playing well enough to be considered an NFL prospect, going through the process can only help you better understand it and realize what you need to work on to improve your status." Charles said he would not go pro unless he was predicted to be chosen in the first round of the draft. After the 2007 Holiday Bowl
2007 Holiday Bowl
The 2007 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 27, 2007 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season and one of 32 games in the 2007-2008 bowl season. It featured the Texas Longhorns against the Arizona State Sun...
Charles said, "Right now, I’m probably coming back. I didn’t think I did that good in the game. Next year maybe I’ll be up for the Heisman. I will come back." From 2000–2007 the Longhorns have had seven players taken in the Top 10 draft picks by the NFL, more than any other school. On January 2 Charles announced he received and was happy with the results of his draft evaluation and that he would declare for the draft.
Despite skipping his senior year, Charles ranks fourth in the list of total-rushing yards by a UT player, behind Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
, Cedric Benson
Cedric Benson
Cedric Myron Benson is an American football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears fourth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft...
, and Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
, with 3,328 yards. Williams and Campbell each won the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
in their senior season.
2008
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Charles in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft with the 73rd pick. Charles thought he would go early in the second round but said he had no regrets about leaving college early. Charles was expected to begin his career as the Chiefs' No. 3 back behind Larry Johnson and Kolby SmithKolby Smith
-Kansas City Chiefs:His first career NFL start was on November 25, 2007 due to injuries to Larry Johnson and the retirement of Priest Holmes. He recorded his first career touchdown on that date against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City....
.
In Charles first professional football game, he rushed for 28 yards on 5 carries against the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He also recorded two catches for six yards. The Chiefs would go on to lose the game 17–10.
In Charles first professional season he ended with 357 yards rushing and 272 yards receiving, but what was most impressive in his rookie season was his 5.3 yard per carry average. In week 9 of the 2008 season with Larry Johnson out, Charles was given the bulk of the carries and managed 106 yards on 18 carries against Tampa Bay. In week 16 of the 2008 season Charles managed to go over 100 yards receiving with 3 catches for 102 yards against Miami.
2009
During Week 9 of the 2009 NFL season2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
, Larry Johnson was released and Charles was promoted to first-string but split carries with Kolby Smith. In his limited action Charles managed 36 yards on only 6 carries for a 6 yard per carry average. During Week 10 of the 2009 NFL season
2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
, Charles ran for 103 yards on 18 carries including a 44 yard TD run, the Chiefs first rushing TD of the year. In week 11 of the 2009 NFL season
2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
, against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, Charles returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. He went on to rush for 58 yards and also had had a 2 yard reception for a touchdown. The Chiefs won the game 27–24
in overtime. Charles was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In week 14 of the 2009 NFL Season, against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Charles ran for a 76 yard touchdown,one of the longest runs in Chiefs history. In week 17 of the 2009 NFL Season, on the road against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Charles rushed for 259 yards on 25 carries, scoring 2 touchdowns and breaking the Chiefs' single-game rushing record. The Chiefs won 44–24. Charles also became the only player in NFL history to rush for 1,100 or more yards in 200 or fewer carries. He also became the only running back in NFL history to rush average 6.1 yards per carry, run 1000 yards and catch 40 balls.
2010
The Chiefs opened up the 2010 season with a win over the Chargers. In that game, Charles, played a pivotal role, including a 56 yard run. Charles finished the season with 1,467 yards and 5 touchdowns on only 230 carries and was voted to his first Pro Bowl. His 6.38 yards per carry average for the season was second only to Hall of FamerPro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
Jim Brown
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
, only two one-hundredths of a yard off of the record pace set by the Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
legend. On December 11, 2010, the Chiefs reached an agreement with Charles on a five-year, $32.5 million deal that includes $13 million guaranteed. In the 2011 Pro Bowl, Charles rushed for 72-yards on 10 carries and scored one touchdown. Charles was honored for his performance in the 2010 season by being selected to his first AP All-Pro team. On NFL Networks Top 100 players of 2011, Charles was ranked the 33rd by his fellow players and was also one of the youngest players on the list.
2011
Charles' 2011 season was short lived. In a week 1 loss to the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Charles rushed for 56 yards on 10 carries. The following week, against the Detroit Lions, Charles suffered an ACL injury. Chiefs head coach Todd Haley
Todd Haley
Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.-Early...
confirmed the next day, that he will miss the remainder of the 2011 season. Charles was officially placed on injured reserve on September 19.