Can Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt become next great RB duo to rush for 1,000 yards each?

Throughout its history, the NFL has only seen five running back duos each rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. Cleveland Browns running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt aim to become the sixth running back duo in NFL history to accomplish that amazing feat.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, any NFL fan would tell you that Cleveland Browns running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are the best running back duo currently in the NFL. Chubb and Hunt have combined to form one of the most dynamic running back duos in NFL history and one that any opposing defense must game plan for.

Throughout their time together, Chubb has been the lead back while Hunt tends to come in sporadically throughout any given game. Chubb tends to be viewed as more of a natural downhill runner and Hunt, while certainly more than a capable runner himself, is used more in the passing game and outside runs.

During the 2020 season, Chubb finished with 1,067 yards to Hunt’s 841 yards. The two were close, but unfortunately came up just short of becoming the sixth running back duo to run for 1,000-yards each in the same season.

Three weeks into the 2021 season and Chubb is sitting at 262 yards rushing while averaging 87.3 yards per game. After his best game of the season against the Chicago Bears, Hunt has now rushed for 165 yards so far this season and is averaging 55 yards per game on the ground.

In order to reach 1,000 yards by the end of the season, Chubb will need to average 52.7 rushing yards per game and Hunt will need to average 59.6 yards rushing per game over the next 14 games. While both of these averages certainly seem attainable, it’s impossible to predict what will occur in a Kevin Stefanski-led offense that is constantly trying to keep opposing defenses guessing.

The extra game added to the schedule this year certainly gives the duo an advantage compared to the players of the past. That being said, this in no way detracts from what an incredible feat this would be for them to achieve.

It’s evident from watching a Browns game that these two running backs feed off of one another. They have a special bond and they each want to see the other perform well and reach their goals together.

If Chubb and Hunt can each reach 1,000 yards this season they will be the first running back duo to do so since the Carolina Panthers’ Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams during the 2009 season.

They also would be following in the footsteps of Cleveland Browns legends Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner, who each reached the 1,000-yard mark during the 1985 season.