NFL: Charles takes final handoff as Chief

Published 2:50 pm Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Not only did Jamaal Charles retire as a Kansas City Chief, he took one last handoff as a Chief.

Ceremonially, not officially.

Port Arthur native Charles signed a one-day contract to end his career with the team that took him in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. The Kansas City Star first reported on the official signing.

“After 25 years of playing this sport I love so much, and 11 years in the NFL, I’m officially hanging up my cleats for the last time today,” Charles said in an Instagram post. “I thank God for giving me the opportunity to play this game at the highest level and every friend and family member that has helped me with my personal development along the way.”

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After 25 years of playing this sport I love so much, and 11 years in the NFL I’m officially hanging up my cleats for the last time today. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to play this game at the highest level and every friend and family member that has helped me with my personal development along the way. Big thanks to Memorial High School, THE University Texas ??, and the Kansas City Chiefs for taking a chance on a kid from Port Arthur, Texas. Thanks to all of my teammates, coaches, and mentors that has helped because there is absolutely no way I could’ve gotten this far alone. HUGE thanks to my beautiful and loving wife Whitney(and my kids) for the support through thick and thin in my career because I know I wasn’t the easiest to deal with lol. To all the kids I’ve inspired along the way, please know that you all inspired me far more than you will ever know and motivated me to keep going. Last but not least, CHIEFS NATION, I’m forever indebted to you all as you are the BEST FAN BASE IN THE WORLD!! Love always, J. Charles #25 OOHHHOOOOHHHOOO OOHHHOOOHHHOOO #CHIEFSNATION #HOOKEM #PORTARTHURTX

A post shared by Jamaal Charles (@djcharles25) on

A Chiefs Twitter video showed Charles, 32, taking a handoff from quarterback Patrick Mahomes as the team’s practice facility while wearing a black suit and dress shoes with a dark shirt in front of current Chiefs players and coach Andy Reid. Charles’ son even lined up in the backfield.

Charles starred in Kansas City from 2008-16 and made his mark as the NFL’s fourth all-time leading rusher per carry (5.4, also best for a running back since Marion Motley in the 1950s). ACL injuries in back-to-back seasons with Kansas City made it tough for Charles to return to All-Pro form, and the Chiefs released him following the 2016 season, only for Charles to sign with AFC West rival Denver.

Charles played two games last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Tributes of Charles poured into Twitter in the past 24 hours, many of them posted on the Star’s website. They all celebrated a man who discovered his athletic prowess as a young Special Olympics competitor and went on to become Port Arthur ISD’s all-time leading rusher at Memorial High School before winning a national championship with the University of Texas as a freshman in 2005.

Charles was plenty thankful on Instagram after he signed.

“Big thanks to Memorial High School, THE University [of] Texas, and the Kansas City Chiefs for taking a chance on a kid form Port Arthur, Texas,” he posted. “Thanks to all of my teammates, coaches, and mentors that has helped because there is absolutely no way I could’ve gotten this far alone. HUGE thanks to my beautiful and loving wife Whitney (and my kids) for the support through thick and thin in my career because I know I wasn’t the easiest to deal with lol. To all the kids I’ve inspired along the way, please know that you all inspired me far more than you will ever know and motivated me to keep going. Last but not least, CHIEFS NATION, I’m forever indebted to you all as you are the BEST FAN BASE IN THE WORLD!! Love always, J. Charles #25”

Charles is still celebrated in his hometown for his accomplishments. Memorial retired his high school No. 4 during the 2015 season, and he served as grand marshal of this year’s Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas.

Charles annually holds a football camp for kids at Memorial.

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews

 

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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