After an absolutely electric career, four-time Pro Bowler Nick Chubb officially retired as a Cleveland Brown on Friday, signing a one-day contract to make it happen. This dude, a genuine legend in Cleveland, was reflective talking to reporters about his whole journey, especially that brutal knee injury he had back in 2023.
From 0-16 to Playoff Glory, Chubb Built That
This guy wasn’t just a runner, he was the catalyst. The Browns picked him 35th overall in the 2018 draft, and man, did he deliver. They were a total dumpster fire, 0-16 the year before he arrived. Chubb immediately became their top running back, their main offensive weapon. He helped them jump to 7-8-1 in his rookie season, a massive swing! Then, in 2020, he was key to an 11-5 season, pushing them into the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. And get this: they even won their first playoff game since way back in 1994, taking down the AFC North champ Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card round. That’s LEGACY material.
A Rollercoaster of Comebacks and Heartbreak
If there’s one word to describe Chubb, it’s resilient. Think about it: this guy had a devastating left knee injury in college in 2015, a dislocated kneecap, torn PCL, MCL, and LCL, just horrific stuff. He battled back like a warrior, racking up 2,591 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns in 2016 and 2017. Unbelievable! He got off to a blistering start in 2023, too, rushing for 170 yards on just 28 carries before Week 2 hit. That’s when the lightning struck twice, a torn MCL and damaged ACL in his left knee against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He missed the rest of 2023 and the first six games of 2024. His famously efficient 5.3 yards per carry never really came back after that. He finished out 2024 in Cleveland and then played one more season with the Houston Texans in 2025, even suiting up for 15 games and grabbing 573 yards and three scores. That’s grit, folks.
Numbers That Scream ‘Elite’
Let’s talk numbers, because they don’t lie. Over his first five seasons, Chubb put up an insane 7,331 yards from scrimmage and 52 touchdowns. He had four 1,000-yard rushing seasons from 2019 to 2022 and even made the All-Pro Second Team in 2022. For his entire career, he piled up 8,458 yards from scrimmage and 59 touchdowns on 1,603 touches, averaging a phenomenal 5.3 yards per touch. His average carry was 5.0 yards! You don’t see that efficiency often. He was undeniably one of the NFL’s best running backs of the last decade. And here’s the kicker: even with only five full seasons as a primary back, he’s still ranked ninth in the entire NFL in rushing yards since 2016. That’s absurd.
Now, the Browns faithful get to show their appreciation! The team is gonna honor Chubb big time this Sunday during their 2026 home opener against the Carolina Panthers. It’s gonna be a moment, pure love and respect for a guy who gave it his all, every single snap. What a career, what a player.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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