Running back Nick Chubb played seven of his eight years with the Cleveland Browns, where he put up numbers only surpassed by Hall of Famers and franchise icons Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly. After he retired, Browns fans quickly made a simple demand from the team – and it was quickly accepted.
Following Chubb’s retirement announcement on Friday, Browns fans demanded that the team bring him back to Cleveland to sign a one-day contract so he could formally retire as a member of the team. Chubb played the 2025 season with the Houston Texans.
In response to the demand that the Browns sign Chubb to a one-day contract, Browns executive vice president and partner JW Johnson went on WEWS News 5 Cleveland with a message for Cleveland: If he wants it, the team will give it to him.
“Hell of a career (from Chubb),” Johnson said. “We’re excited to get him back here and have him retire as a Brown as he rightfully should. Nick, if you’re watching and listening, we’re excited to get you back and get you back here as a Brown, buddy.”
Chubb’s Dominance in Cleveland
In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns took QB Baker Mayfield in the first round. But their second-round pick was Chubb following his standout career at Georgia. Chubb quickly proved to be an impact player who had arguably as big a hand in helping the team out of the doldrums as the No. 1 overall draft pick.
As a rookie, Chubb finished just shy of 1,000 rushing yards and had 1,145 yards from scrimmage plus 10 touchdowns. The following year he put up 1,494 yards and another eight touchdowns, making his first Pro Bowl in the process.
2020 was the year everything came together. In just 12 games, Chubb had 1,097 yards and 12 touchdowns, making another Pro Bowl in the process, and helped the team end its two-decade playoff drought. In his playoff debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chubb had over 140 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in their first postseason victory since the 1990s.
Scott Galvin-Imagn Images.
Following another 1,000-yard season and Pro Bowl in 2021, Chub had his best year ever in 2022, recording a career-high 1,525 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He earned Second-Team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career.
Sadly, 2022 would mark the last time Chubb went over even 600 yards, let alone 1,000. Injuries in 2023 and 2024 limited him to just 10 games in that span and he became a free agent in 2025.
Chubb signed a one-year deal with the Texans, where he had 506 rushing yards and a team-leading three rushing touchdowns.
