Browns fans have one ambition as hero calls time on career with heartfelt retirement statement

In the end Nick Chubb had to call it quits.

The star of a running back can often burn bright but short, and that was the case for Chubb who has called time on his eight-year NFL career.

Getty

Getty

Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson may lead the way as all-purpose backs in the league today – and they have the nine-figure contracts to back it up, but as a pure runner perhaps only Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley come close to Chubb’s highs.

Over his eight seasons with Cleveland and Houston, Chubb has rushed for 7,349 regular season yards and 54 touchdowns with 207 more in the postseason.

He also had almost 1200 total yards through the air and 41 touchdowns.

In a heartfelt post to social media on Friday night, Chubb confirmed his decision, 12 months on from signing a one-year deal with the Houston Texans.

NFL Weekly Newsletter - SIGN UP!

talkSPORT is your home for NFL in the UK as we launch our biggest year of coverage yet!

2026 promises to be an epic year for NFL on talkSPORT – and we want you to join us for the ride.

MORE INFO & SIGN-UP HERE!

This season will be our biggest ever with live commentary of 90+ games, including behind-the-scenes access to international games and all three London fixtures, plus bumper coverage of Super Bowl 61 at SoFi Stadium.

Exclusive interviews, hard-hitting opinion, latest front-office drama and top breaking news – all delivered straight to your inbox each week.

“Today’s the day I’ve been avoiding for a while. Twelve year old me could never imagine this day, and 30 year old me is wondering where all the time has gone,” Chubb posted to his Instagram account.

“I’ve known for some time now, but I’m finally ready to share that I’m done playing football. I wanted to end my career on a healthy note, along with a winning season, and I was able to do that.”

A solid year with the Texans was not quite the finale he would have hoped for having enjoyed a spectacular start to his career with the Browns.

The 30-year-old had left behind a seven-year spell in Cleveland, the last two of which were hampered by serious injury, but the first five were the stuff of legend.

Drafted out of Georgia – where he suffered the first of two significant knee injuries in his career – in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Chubb and the Browns were a match made in heaven

The team of legendary Jim Brown – one of the greatest of all time at the position – had a new favorite to run the rock, and he did it in spectacular fashion.

In his first five seasons, he registered four 1,000-yard campaigns, totaling 6,341 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns to go with 990 yards through the air and four touchdowns over the regular season.

His sole season in the playoffs came in Cleveland’s run to the AFC Divisional Round when he had 145 rushing yards and 73 receiving yards over the two games that ended with narrow defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs.

After two games and 191 total yards to start the 2023 season he suffered a serious knee injury that ruled him out until Week 7 of the 2024.

But numbers are only one thing, it’s what a player means to a franchise that can define a career and Brown meant everything to Cleveland fans – and they are determined to see him finish in one way.

“Bring him home for a 1 day contract and let him retire a Cleveland Brown! Please and Thank you!” one fan posted to X (formerly Twitter).

Getty

Getty

“I want nothing more than for Nick Chubb to have a full-time position with this organization whenever he wants it,” another added.

A third simply posted, “Favorite player of all time,” while a fourth said.

“Nick Chubb is a top 10 #Browns player of all time, no question. He was such a huge part of this team and everyone loved him. Injuries are the worst. All the best to him in retirement.”

For a franchise starved of any significant success as a team, on field heroes carry even greater significance.

Chubb will go down as one of the best to do it for the Browns and he finished his announcement by underlining just how pleased he is to leave the game with his health.

“The only thing I could control after hurting my knee twice was getting back up, getting back to work, and getting back on the field and I was able to do that both times.

“I say this to all my brothers still on the field, still in the heat of it: There’s a life waiting for you after football, too. And health is the real wealth.

“I end my career in a great place. Even though there are some things I wish had happened differently, I can say that I have no regrets.”