Few pro athletes – especially football players – are willing to show a softer side to the public the way new Broncos running back Jamaal Charles does.
The veteran running back has been through some serious highs and lows over the past 10 months, and he’s shared his feelings periodically in a blog on his website, jamaalcharles25.com. From the difficulty of his season-ending injuries suffered the past two years in Kansas City, to the joy of welcoming his son into the world, to the challenge and excitement of joining a new team, Charles is honest and sincere with his fans.
His latest post, “A NEW CHAPTER,” went live during Week 3 of Broncos OTAs. In it, Charles shares some candid thoughts about the difficulty of leaving Kansas City and the wonderment of playing for one of his childhood heroes in Denver.
Here are some of the highlights, although we encourage you to read the full post at his website.
About the Broncos coaching staff…
“The coaching staff here is excellent. The running back coach, Eric Studesville, has been really great to me, helping me understand the vocabulary and the calls.”
About his history as a Broncos fan…
“Before I got to the NFL, I really liked the Broncos growing up, as a fan. Specifically, I’ve been big fan of John Elway since high school. I loved the way he played the game. He was a great player, one of the best of all time at the quarterback position, or really at any position. I remember so well watching when they won the Super Bowl two years in a row at the end of his career. I’m with the Broncos now hoping to do the same type of thing.”
About following in the footsteps of great Broncos running backs…
“There’s a great tradition and legacy of success here in Denver, both with John and at the running back position. Specifically with another Hall of Famer, Terrell Davis. My hope is I can come here, do my job, contribute to wins, and add to the legacy. I’m really simply so happy to be out here, healthy, and be a Denver Bronco.”
About being a dad to a newborn son (born in March)…
“I’ve been missing him so much since I got to Denver, and every time my wife calls me, I’ve been telling her, ‘Where’s my son at!’ ‘Let me talk to him!'”
About leaving the Kansas City Chiefs…
“The staff was always so great to me in Kansas City. I had a great relationship with the coaches—especially my position coach Eric Bieniemy—the strength coaches and the trainers. David Glover has been there since I first started, and helped me a lot over my career as a Chief.
“Overall, the whole organization supported me, and there are a lot of people there that I will always remember, and miss a lot.”
About what he hopes to accomplish as a Bronco…
“The only thing I haven’t accomplished on the football field that is exceptionally important to me is winning a Super Bowl. The goal is to do that here in the next chapter of my life. That’s why I still, after all these years, want to play football so badly and will give it everything I got, my heart and soul poured into it.”
