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          RB Charles to retire after signing with Chiefs

          • ESPN
          Apr 30, 2019, 05:08 PM

          Running back Jamaal Charles has signed a one-day contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and is retiring from the NFL after 11 seasons, the team announced Wednesday.

          View this post on Instagram

          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

          Charles, 32, played nine seasons for the Chiefs after being selected in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2008 NFL draft and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro with Kansas City. He is the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 7,260 yards.

          Kansas City released him in February 2017 and he played for the Denver Broncos (in 2017, appearing in 14 games) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2018, for two games) the past two seasons, rushing for 303 yards on just 75 carries.

          He finishes his career with 7,563 yards, 56th on the NFL's all-time rushing list. His career average of 5.4 yards per carry is ranked first all-time among rushers with at least 1,000 carries.

          Charles twice had to overcome ACL injuries, in 2011 and 2015, missing 14 games in '11 and 24 games in '15 and '16 combined. He bounced back nicely after the first ACL injury, setting his career high with 1,509 rushing yards in 2012. In 2013 he set his career high in touchdowns with 19 (12 rushing and seven receiving).

          However, he was unable to fully rebound from his second ACL injury. He played just three games in the '16 season before being placed on injured reserve with knee soreness and later undergoing arthroscopic surgery.