Drafted in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Texas, Jamaal Charles stepped onto the field possessing game-breaking track speed. When long-time featured back Larry Johnson suffered an injury and was subsequently released midway through the 2009 campaign, Charles inherited the backfield keys and instantly made Chiefs fans forget their former star, announcing his arrival with a blistering 1,120-yard rushing breakout over the final half of his sophomore season.

That late-season surge set up a historic 2010 performance. With unmatched home-run acceleration, Charles shattered his previous high by rushing for 1,467 yards on just 230 carries—an astounding 6.4 yards per carry—to earn his first Pro Bowl selection and consensus AP First-Team All-Pro honors. A torn ACL in Week 2 of 2011 wiped out his fourth year, but his return in 2012 proved he had lost none of his signature burst, as he registered a career-high 1,509 rushing yards and five scores.

His absolute peak arrived in 2013 during Andy Reid’s inaugural season as head coach. As the focal point of the offense, Charles put together a masterclass in modern dual-threat execution: leading the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns while amassing 1,287 rushing yards, plus career highs in receptions (70) and receiving yards (693). His 19 overall touchdowns led the league, highlighting a campaign headlined by his iconic "Jamaal-Athon" performance against Oakland—a five-touchdown explosion that sealed his second AP First-Team All-Pro nod.

Charles posted his fifth and final 1,000-yard rushing campaign in 2014, earning his fourth Pro Bowl invitation while continuing to torment defenses as both a perimeter runner and screen receiver. However, a second ACL tear in 2015 and lingering knee issues in 2016 limited his availability, ending his storied tenure in Missouri after nine seasons before he made brief late-career stops in Denver and Jacksonville.

A purely electric performer whose 5.4 yards-per-carry average ranks among the highest in modern NFL history for any qualified running back, Charles retired as Kansas City's all-time leading rusher with 7,260 franchise yards. He also had43 touchdowns on the ground, and another 20 in the air, with 2,475 yards.