Nick Chubb retires with Browns ahead of game-day honor

BEREA, Ohio -- Four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb returned to Cleveland on Friday to officially retire as a member of the Browns, saying it was a better moment than his initial exit two seasons ago.

Chubb, 30, announced his retirement in August after eight NFL seasons, the first seven of which were spent with the Browns. A reserved but revered player who earned the respect of his teammates, coaches and opponents through his work ethic and dedication, Chubb will be honored at the Browns' home opener Sunday.

"It's great to be back. Cleveland is where my journey started, and this is where it's going to end today," Chubb said during a news conference.

The No. 35 pick of the 2018 draft out of Georgia, Chubb rushed for 7,349 yards and 54 touchdowns during his NFL career. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in four straight seasons starting in 2019, including a career-high 1,525 in 2022.

A severe left knee injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers derailed Chubb's career. He was sidelined for the final 15 games of that season and the first six games of 2024.

Chubb returned to play eight games in 2024, but his tenure in Cleveland concluded with a season-ending foot injury in Week 15. The Browns did not re-sign Chubb.

"It was just kind of a sad ending," Chubb said of his time in Cleveland. "I think now it's better closure for everyone just to see me finally back in the stadium and to be in high spirits, be up and walking and moving and just for me to be back in Cleveland.

"[The injury is] something I had to come to terms with, obviously," Chubb added. "Not how I wanted it to end for me, but it happened, and that's all I can do is just accept that it happened and move forward."

Chubb played his final season with the Houston Texans in 2025, rushing for 506 yards and three touchdowns.

"One, I wasn't playing for Cleveland anymore, so I didn't feel like playing football," Chubb said of his decision to retire. "But it was just a time that I thought I pretty much had done all that I could."

Chubb ranks third in Browns history in rushing yards (6,843), trailing only Jim Brown (12,312) and Leroy Kelly (7,274). Over his first five NFL seasons (2018-22), he led all running backs in yards per rush (5.2) and ranked second to Derrick Henry in rushing yards (6,341) and rushing touchdowns (48).

He said his fondest memory with the Browns will be upsetting the Steelers on the road in the wild-card round of the 2020 postseason.

"It was great to beat Pittsburgh in the playoffs," Chubb said. "I think that whole COVID year was a mess, but that season was really fun to me. I think just that season as a whole was just probably my favorite memory."