CLEVELAND — Nick Chubb is coming home to finish his career where it started. The Cleveland Browns announced Thursday that Chubb will sign a one-day contract to officially retire as a member of the franchise.
Chubb was the same guy every Sunday for seven years — a punishing, no-nonsense running back who became the heartbeat of the Browns offense and one of the most beloved players in franchise history. The one-day contract lets him close the book on his playing career in the uniform of the team that drafted him and the city that adopted him.
The announcement marks the end of an era for a player whose hard-running style made him a fan favorite in Cleveland. For seven seasons, Chubb embodied the identity the Browns tried to build: tough, reliable and relentless between the tackles.
Retiring as a Brown was never in doubt. Players of Chubb’s stature rarely get to choose their ending, but the one-day contract gives Cleveland the chance to honor one of its own — and gives Chubb the chance to walk away wearing the orange and brown one more time.
Details of any formal ceremony have not yet been announced, but the team said the contract signing will make official what fans already knew: Nick Chubb will always be a Cleveland Brown.