Nick Chubb officially retires as a Cleveland Browns legend

(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) | Getty Images Nick Chubb’s arrival in Cleveland was a quiet one, as captured by the camera of HBO’s Hard Knocks series. Chubb was filmed at the baggage carousel of Cleveland Hopkins Airport, waiting for his luggage when someone asked him who he was. Chubb softly

Football Zone

SEE ALL

SB Nation

49ers reporter says there’s concern Nick Bosa has suffered serious injury

SB Nation

Seahawks All-22 review: How Beau Stephens performed in his NFL debut

SB Nation

Matt Nagy is charge of ‘lane change’ for NY Giants’ offense

What is the story about?

Nick Chubb’s arrival in Cleveland was a quiet one, as captured by the camera of HBO’s Hard Knocks series.

Chubb was filmed at the baggage carousel of Cleveland Hopkins Airport, waiting for his luggage when someone asked him who he was. Chubb softly mentioned he was a newly drafted member of the Cleveland Browns, which elicited a basic “good luck” from the other person.

But once he set foot on the field, there was nothing quiet about Chubb, who signed a one-day contract on Friday to officially retire

from the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.

It took until Week 4 of his rookie season for Chubb to get a carry, but he took that handoff and ripped off a 63-yard touchdown run that firmly established himself as one of the best running backs in the league and a fan favorite throughout his seven years in Cleveland.

During his time with the Browns, Chubb:

Set the franchise record for the longest rushing touchdown with a 92-yard run against the Atlanta Falcons in 2018.
Posted 30 100-yard rushing games, the second most in franchise history.
Rushed for 51 touchdowns, the third most in franchise history.
Rushed for 6,843 yards, the third most in franchise history.
Had four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, highlighted by a career-best 1,525 rushing yards in 2022, the most by a Cleveland running back not named Jim Brown.
Earned four Pro Bowl trips to go along with countless memories for Browns fans.

Chubb reflected on what he called his second home in a team-issued statement on Friday:

“I love Cleveland. It’s a second home to me. Ever since I stepped foot into the city, I’ve felt nothing but love and positivity. The decision to retire a Brown was an easy one. To be able to officially retire as a Brown means a lot to my family and me. The Browns have the best fans in football. There were some memorable experiences with the Dawg Pound that I’ll never forget.

“Jimmy and Dee Haslam, Whitney and JW Johnson, and Andrew Berry have done nothing but welcome me with open arms, and I’m appreciative of them as I make this life-changing decision. Cleveland has meant a lot to me over the past eight years, and I’m proud that I can always call it another home.”

General manager Andrew Berry issued a statement highlighting Chubb’s legacy as one of the game’s best running backs:

“For seven years, Nick Chubb was the gold standard for performance, professionalism and leadership within the Browns organization. Although he came in as a quiet, second-round pick, it didn’t take long for him to make an impact. While our fans mostly began to notice him after his 105 rushing yards on 3 (!!) carries and two touchdowns in an overtime game during his rookie year in Oakland, Nick had been garnering respect across the organization behind the scenes with his work ethic and team orientation. A perfect example of this is during that very same game in Oakland, Nick played 15 special teams snaps and recorded four tackles for us. He has always been about helping the team.

“Although Nick ran his way into our fans’ hearts as the best RB in football during his prime, his story of perseverance resonates just as deeply,” Berry continued. “To welcome him back to the field at home against Cincinnati during the 2024 season is a memory that will be permanently etched in all of our minds. While we all feel that Nick’s career ended sooner than it should for factors beyond his control, we cherish all the special moments he brought to this franchise and how well he represented us. We are so excited for him to retire a Cleveland Brown because he embodies everything we value.”

Chubb was never the same after suffering a devastating knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season, but he worked his way back to play eight games for the Browns in 2024, then 15 games with the Houston Texans in 2025.

Chubb retires with 7,349 rushing yards, 54 rushing touchdowns, and an average of 5 yards per carry in his 100 games.

The Browns will honor Chubb during Sunday’s home opener against the Carolina Panthers, and he will speak with the media later today. Stay tuned to Dawgs By Nature for full coverage.