Nick Chubb formerly of the Cleveland Browns
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Nick Chubb formerly of the Cleveland Browns
There is only a small handful, really, of Cleveland Browns players who will come out of the franchise’s current era as undisputed heroes. Myles Garrett is back in the fold, for sure, and Joel Bitonio may yet remain one, too. But probably no single player from the past decade remains so beloved in Cleveland as running back Nick Chubb.
For five seasons, Chubb was arguably the best running back in the NFL, averaging nearly 100 yards per game from scrimmage and tallying 52 touchdowns. In September 2023, that all changed, as Chubb suffered a torn MCL and a damaged ACL in a game against Pittsburgh. Chubb would undergo two reconstructive surgeries and a grueling rehab, needing more than a year to get back on the field.
Eight games into his return in 2024, as he was getting his legs back underneath him, Chubb broke his foot. That ended his season, and his Browns career. At least, for the time being.
Nick Chubb Video Pops Up Amid Free Agency
Last year, the Browns drafted Quinshon Judkins in the second round and Dylan Sampson in the fourth round, leaving no real room for Chubb on the roster. Chubb signed with the Texans in June, and split time with Woody Marks as the lead back. Marks had a breakout second half, and while Chubb was not his old self, he did rush for 506 yards on 122 carries, an average of 4.1 yards per carry.
Chubb is a free agent this spring. And a new Instagram video sparked some hope that he could return to Cleveland after his one-year hiatus in Houston.
In the video, released by the same JOC Films company that did the popular Batman videos when Chubb was at his peak, Chubb is shown back in Cleveland, doing the painful rehab and coming back from his injuries at home and at the Browns’ facility, and finally striding through the tunnel at Huntington Bank Field in full uniform, carrying the Browns flag. A speech from Rocky Balboa plays in the background.
It’s emotional, and even the coldest of sports analytics drones would have to feel a bit of a swell in the chest seeing Chubb in that context again. The JOC Films account noted, “Too much good footage to ignore with this audio. Click the link in bio for updates on the documentary.”
Would Browns Want a Reunion?
Now, getting Chubb back to the Cleveland Browns would be a relatively simple thing to do. While he is not going to rip off 1,500 yards, he showed in 2025 that he still belongs in the NFL. And with Jerome Ford finally landing elsewhere–he signed with the Commanders for one year, $1.4 million–the Browns could easily get Chubb back in the building on a similar deal.
Fans would certainly welcome the addition. But Chubb would be firmly No. 3 on the depth chart, and it could be that he is looking for more of an opportunity to have a chance to play. He won’t be the lead back, but he’d make a very capable backup.
The Browns also might not have an emotional reunion in mind, either. While bringing back Chubb is a very good story for a franchise that could use as much positive PR as possible, the Browns would probably prefer to take a flier on a late-round young running back in the draft (or an undrafted option), one whom they could develop.
But as long as Chubb is a free agent, and as long as the Browns have a hole in the RB room, there’s still a chance.