The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to make a run at their third-straight Super Bowl.
Getting to a Super Bowl is never an easy task — and while it feels like Andy Reid and the Chiefs can never be doubted as the best team in the NFL in any season with Patrick Mahomes as the team’s QB — the offseason has been filled with drama and controversy creating unnecessary distractions heading into 2024.
Rashee Rice — who emerged as the Chiefs’ top receiver last season as a rookie — was involved in a hit-and-run and continues to wait to see what his fate will be as the legal process plays out. Luckily, the Kansas City Chiefs added Hollywood Brown in the offseason and drafted Texas WR Xavier Worthy, so Mahomes will have options if Rice is forced to miss time in the 2024 season.
Jul 24, 2023; St. Joseph, MO, USA; KKansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) walks from the locker room to the practice fields during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Other than Rice, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made worldwide headlines for his controversial comments during a commencement speech at a private Catholic college. Despite multiple groups calling for Kansas City to part ways with Butker, Reid and the Chiefs brass stood by their kicker amidst the backlash.
On paper, it’s hard to see a scenario in which the Kansas City Chiefs aren’t the AFC favorite yet again heading into 2024. They locked down one of their biggest defensive superstars Chris Jones to a contract extension in the offseason and obviously added talent around Mahomes on offense. There were rumors Travis Kelce would step away from football after winning another Super Bowl with all of his opportunities off the field since he started dating Taylor Swift, but the Chiefs tight end is back for another season in 2024.
As the Chiefs prepare to compete for another Lombardi Trophy in 2024, one of their recent superstars recently opened up about his personal struggles after retiring and shared.
Former Kansas City Chiefs Star Jamaal Charles Reveals He Had Suicidal Thoughts and Battled Depression After NFL Retirement
KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 26: Jamaal Charles #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Thomas Jones #20 after scoring a touchdown during the game against the Tennessee Titans on December 26, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Chiefs selected Charles in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft with the 73rd overall pick, acquired from the Minnesota Vikings in the Jared Allen trade. He was the ninth running back to be selected that year and went on to cement himself as one of the top ball-carriers in the NFL.
In his nine seasons in Kansas City, the former Texas Longhorns RB posted five seasons where he surpassed 1,000 yards rushing, including a streak from 2009-2014 where he surpassed the 1,000 yard mark five out of those six consecutive seasons. He tore his ACL just two games into the 2011 season, but bounced back in 2012 to post one of his best professional campaigns, finishing the year with a career-high 1,509 rushing yards.
Jamaal Charles finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs with two first team All-Pro selections (2010, 2013) and four Pro Bowl selections (2010, 2012-2014). In 2013, Charles led the NFL with 13 rushing touchdowns.
On July 23, 2014, one day after threatening to hold out of training camp, Charles agreed to a two-year, $18.1 million extension making him one of the top five highest paid running backs in the NFL. He finished the 2014 season with 1,033 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, 40 receptions, 291 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns.
But in October of 2015, he tore the ACL in his right knee, and his production with the Chiefs was never the same. After battling various injuries as he attempted to return from the ACL injury in 2016, the Kansas City Chiefs released Charles in January of 2017.
“When I put all the effort I did when I was with the team, doing everything I could to be the first in and first out, obviously I wish they would have given that same energy to me when I retried,” Charles said about getting released from the Chiefs and retiring two years later on a recent appearance on a podcast.
The former Kansas City Chiefs star then gave a shocking revelation.
After failed stints with the Broncos and Jaguars, Charles signed a one-day contract with the Chiefs in 2019 and officially retired.
Former star RB Jamaal Charles opens up about life after the league, says he battles with depression and suicidal thoughts.
“I went to work with investment people and it didn’t go well. I started to lose money so I started to get really depressive and suicidal.” pic.twitter.com/C1RMBKk56s
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) June 9, 2024
“People don’t really know but I went and tried to work with people and invest with people and it didn’t go well,” Charles said. “I started to lose money in investments and so I started to get really depressed and suicidal. I still continued to try to find my way after going through that situation, it was hard for me because I didn’t know who could help or who to lean on.”
