Jamaal Charles closing in on Kansas City Chiefs rushing yards record

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is very close to breaking the all-time career mark in franchise history for rushing yards, set by the great Priest Holmes.

Charles, only 26 years old, has a chance to break that mark in 2013, needing just 1,535 yards to be the Chiefs new all-time leading rusher. The question is, will he make it this year? Last season, Charles gained a career-high 1,509 yards on the ground.

Also, consider this nugget from Charles in an Adam Teicher article in the Kansas City Star:

"This offense might be the best thing that ever happened to me," Charles said. "I think this offense will get me open. They’re going to throw me the ball more. I think I’ll continue to stack Pro Bowls on Pro Bowls if I can stay healthy."

If not for an ACL injury that robbed him of almost the entire 2011 campaign, it would only be a matter of time for this record to be broken if it wasn't already. Currently, Charles sits fourth on the Chiefs rushing list behind Larry Johnson and Christian Okoye as well.

Okoye only sits less than 400 yards ahead of Charles, so passing him should be easy barring another horrible injury. However, Johnson only finished his Kansas City days 55 yards behind Holmes, so he could leapfrog both in the same game.

It's incredible to think Johnson was so close, but derailed from history thanks to his own ignorance. Personally, I'm glad Holmes has the record and look forward to when he passes the torch to Charles. Both seem like stand-up individuals who represent the organization as it should be.

So what say you? How long until Charles bypasses Holmes? This season? Next season? Never?

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