Jamaal Charles plans to agitate opposing defenses deep into the future. The four-time Kansas City ChiefsPro Bowl running back said this week that he hopes to play six more seasons before calling it quits at age 35 -- and that's not all.
"I want to be (AFC) offensive player of the year," Charles said, per ESPN. "That's always my goal, every year my goal. I want to come back to (Kansas City's annual) 101 Banquet for the Chiefs award. I want to come back as AFC player of the year. That's what I've been wanting to do. I think I almost got there. Peyton Manning had an awesome season (in 2013), and he beat me out."
Coming off three-consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, Charles remains in the cluster of backs who annually threaten to capture the rushing title. He's helped by a run-heavy Chiefs offense, but Kansas City is bound to throw the ball more next season with wideout Jeremy Maclin in the mix. The Chiefs also boast one of the league's most promising pass-catching tight ends in Travis Kelce.
As for playing another six seasons, the 28-year-old Charles still runs with fresh legs, but backs consistently tail off after 30. Charles vowed that he was "definitely not going to take as many big hits" as he did last year, but his workload over the past three seasons has been immense.
Charles is signed through 2017 -- and we'd be surprised if he doesn't finish out that deal -- but what happens after that is anyone's guess.
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