The moment Nick Chubb announced his retirement from the NFL, a familiar chorus rose from the Dawg Pound: bring him home. And the Cleveland Browns didn't waste a second in answering that call.
Chubb, who spent eight seasons in Cleveland before a final year with the Houston Texans, hung up his cleats on Friday. Within hours, fans flooded social media with a simple request — let him sign a one-day deal and retire as a Brown. On Saturday, the team made it clear that request would be granted.
Browns executive vice president and partner JW Johnson appeared on WEWS News 5 Cleveland and delivered the news Browns fans had been hoping to hear.
“Hell of a career,” Johnson said. “We’re excited to get him back here and have him retire as a Brown as he rightfully should. Nick, if you’re watching and listening, we’re excited to get you back and get you back here as a Brown, buddy.”
It's a fitting end for a player who meant more to the franchise than just numbers. Chubb arrived in Cleveland as a second-round pick in the 2018 draft, the same year the team took Baker Mayfield first overall. But it was Chubb who became the engine of the offense and a symbol of the franchise's resurgence.
As a rookie, he nearly hit 1,000 rushing yards and scored 10 touchdowns. The next year, he exploded for 1,494 yards and eight scores, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. Then came 2020, the season that snapped a two-decade playoff drought. In just 12 games, Chubb racked up 1,097 yards and 12 touchdowns, and in the wild-card round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he racked up over 140 scrimmage yards and a score in the team's first playoff win since the 1990s.
He kept rolling with another 1,000-yard season in 2021, then hit his peak in 2022 with a career-best 1,525 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors. That year, he was arguably the best pure runner in football, a bruising back with breakaway speed who made defenders miss and fans roar.
Injuries, however, took a toll. A devastating knee injury in 2023 and subsequent setbacks limited him to just 10 games over the next two seasons. He signed with Houston in 2025 and managed 506 rushing yards and three scores, but the fire had dimmed.
Now, the Browns are ready to honor him the way fans always wanted. The one-day contract will allow Chubb to officially retire in the orange and brown, joining the ranks of Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly as legends who never truly left.
His retirement has already sparked an outpouring of tributes from across the NFL, and Cleveland's response only adds to the emotional weight. For a fan base that has endured so much, this is a moment to celebrate a player who gave them everything.
As the Browns prepare for the upcoming season, the focus remains on their quarterback battle and other roster questions. But for one day, all eyes will be on No. 24, back where he belongs.
