BEREA, Ohio — Few players in Cleveland Browns history became beloved to the level Nick Chubb did.
His departure after seven years in northern Ohio, formalized by Chubb signing a one-year deal with the Houston Texans this week, was equally felt by the fan base and inside the Browns’ locker room.
‘Love Nick,’ defensive end Myles Garrett said. ‘A lot of people in this locker room still feel the same way as I do.
‘We want the best for him.’
Chubb made four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2019-22 and rushed for 1,525 yards, a career best, in 2022. At 80.5 rushing yards per game, he trails only Jim Brown in franchise history, while his 51 touchdowns ranks third behind Brown and Leroy Kelly on the all-time team list.
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‘You guys know how I feel about him,’ head coach Kevin Stefanski said. ‘Huge part of our success here and a huge part of our franchise.’
Disaster struck two weeks into the 2023 season, when he suffered a devastating knee injury that ended his year and required an extensive recovery. The way he battled back further endeared him to his teammates and fans. But he broke his foot with three games to play last season, with the Browns well removed from the playoff race.
To see Chubb go through all of that broke Garrett’s heart. But Chubb passed his physical with Houston, and Garrett is happy he can still play and wants to see him return to form with a smile on his face.
“Continue to ball out,” as Garrett put it.
As he negotiated his record-setting (at the time) contract extension amid an offseason trade request, Garrett said he made it clear during his conversations with the front office that he also wanted Chubb back. Instead, the Browns went younger at the position and drafted Quinshon Judkins out of Ohio State in the second round and Dylan Sampson from Tennessee in the fourth.
Garrett’s like what he’s seen thus far from the backs in general but he called it “an emotional blow” to not have Chubb around any longer.
“He’s broken through all the ceilings that we set for him while recovering from injuries he’s had, as extensive those have been,” Garrett said. “He’s special.”