Jan. 16, 2026, 7:00 a.m. CT

This week, Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke with retired All-Pro NFL running back and Kansas City Chiefs legend Jamaal Charles.

In his interview with Easton Jr., Charles discussed his role as an NFL Alumni ambassador for the ‘GEAR UP Against Cancer‘campaign’s fight against lung cancer, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. He also shared his connection to Chiefs Kingdom and Arrowhead Stadium memories.

“Yeah, joining this campaign, I wanted just to use my influence, use my playing in Kansas City for a decade. I’m always active in the community, always doing anything positive to improve people’s health. I’m all with it. I’m always inspiring people,” said Charles, “So it’s definitely a campaign that I was excited to do because my mom still smoked. I’m still trying to get her to stop. But it doesn’t start with my mom by the side, with a lot of other people’s, too. I just wanted to use my background as a professional athlete in health and wellness, and it is essential to be on this campaign.”

Charles played his best NFL seasons for the Chiefs, reflecting fondly on his experience at Arrowhead Stadium, including the initial misunderstanding about where it was located.

“I think about the confusion I had when I got drafted, thinking I was going to Kansas. So that’s one of the confusions. But man, I have great memories there. I scored my first touchdown ever. We had the Guinness World record for the loudest stadium. At Arrowhead, just coming out of the tunnel, and they yelled your name-“my name”-“coming from the University of Texas” said Charles, “That’s one of the first moments I have just coming out and dancing, I can say, just seeing the crowd getting loud, and seeing them making the offensive team jump offsides, having that advantage.”

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Charles retired on a one-day contract with the Chiefs in 2019. He supports the future of the new stadium slated to open in Kansas for the 2031 season.

“Just the moments, man, I hope that carry on to the next stadium, Kansas, and I can’t wait,” said Charles, “I know history is moving on, but I hope that we have that same feeling going on to the future with us.”

For more information on the ‘GEAR UP Against Cancer‘campaign’s fight against lung cancer, visit the National Football League Alumni Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.