“I LOVE CLEVELAND.”
Nick Chubb won’t be the first Cleveland Browns legend to say those words, but no player in franchise history might come across as more authentic.
Chubb penned a statement to Browns fans ahead of Friday’s retirement ceremony in Berea. Cleveland’s beloved former running back will sign a one-day contract, attend practice, and officially retire with the Dawg Pound.
These events are typically a little cheesy, but it’s different with Chubb, whose connection with the city and Browns fans makes him 1-of-1.
“It’s a second home to me,” Chubb wrote of Cleveland. “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.”
grateful for every single memorable moment pic.twitter.com/E4ELRWwBe4
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 25, 2026
3 words in Chubb's statement speak volumes about his unique connection to Cleveland
Chubb really called retiring with the Browns a “life-changing decision.” Nothing he wrote in his statement to Browns fans should resonate more.
The Browns stood by him during the 2024 offseason as Chubb attempted to work his way back from an event that was truly life-altering — the knee injury he suffered against the Steelers on Monday Night Football in September 2023. But it took a reworked contract that resulted in a pay cut for Chubb to make his emotional return to the field that year. The Browns then opted to let their franchise legend sit in free agency in 2025 as they drafted two running backs, Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson.
Chubb wound up signing with the Houston Texans in June 2025. He proved to himself that he could still play at a high level, rushing for over 500 yards in a shared backfield with Woody Marks while getting one last taste of playoff football.
And that was the end. The Browns’ need for veteran running back depth chased them into the 2026 offseason, after Todd Monken was hired as head coach, but a reunion with Chubb never materialized as a serious option. As it stands, the Browns are rolling with Judkins, Jaleel McLaughlin, and Raheim Sanders as their top three backs, with Sampson on injured reserve.
This whole thing certainly could have played out differently. The Browns risked burning a bridge with one of their most beloved former players. It takes a level of maturity and realism to understand the business side of the NFL and the franchise’s trajectory. Chubb also said back in August that he knew the 2025 season with the Texans was his last ride.
In the end, it’s good vibes all around. The Browns haven’t won a lot of meaningful games in their franchise’s history, but some of the NFL’s greatest players have worn the orange and brown on Sundays. How many of them would genuinely cherish the opportunity to return to Cleveland and do the one-day contract thing?
There’s only one, and that’s Nick Chubb. Sunday’s guitar smash during the home opener is going to hit all the right chords.
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