Jamaal Charles Says He Hasn't Officially Retired, Has Hall of Fame Resume

Veteran running back Jamaal Charles appeared in just two games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2018 season and ran the ball just six times, but he isn't conceding that his playing days are over just yet.

"It's in the air right now," Charles told TMZ Sports about his playing career. "I'm going to sit down with my family and still try to go through the process of what's the best thing for me, and us, and I'm going to move on from there."

However, Charles acknowledged it was a "possibility" he's played his last game and said he was "happy either way."

Whether he returns to the NFL or eventually retires, however, Charles believes he put together a strong Hall of Fame resume in his career.

"Some of my numbers look way better than some people already in Canton," he said, smiling. 

Most notably, Charles averaged 5.4 yards per carry in his career, the best mark in NFL history. He rushed for over 1,000 yards five times, accumulating 7,563 rushing yards and 44 rushing touchdowns across 11 seasons.

He also caught 310 passes for 2,593 yards and an additional 20 scores.

Those numbers are more modest compared to the greats at the position, however. His rushing yards place him 56th on the all-time list, while his rushing scores are just 97th. Had Charles been able to stay healthier later in his career—between 2015-18 he appeared in just 24 games—he likely would have been an obvious choice for the Hall. 

Regardless, the 32-year-old Charles is proud to hold the record for yards per carry.

"It makes me feel good that I was able to accomplish something in the NFL and leave a legacy that hopefully can stand like Jim Brown and Barry Sanders," he said. "That tells you what type of player I was. I gave it my all. Every time I touched the ball, I averaged six yards a carry, basically."

"I know records are made to be broken," he added, "but that's something I can say I'm happy to have."