Chase Brown went from watching games from the sideline as a rookie to becoming the centerpiece of the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive plans. Now, with Joe Mixon gone and a full season of production under his belt, the third-year running back is drawing comparisons to one of the NFL’s most dangerous dual-threat weapons.
How Did Chase Brown Transform from Backup to Bengals’ Feature Back?
Brown’s journey with the Bengals started quietly. As a rookie, the fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft had a limited role in Cincinnati’s offense, recording just 179 rushing yards on 44 carries and 156 receiving yards with one touchdown on 14 receptions.
Everything changed following the departure of long-time running back Joe Mixon. Brown became a breakout star in 2024, appearing in 16 games and making ten starts. He finished with 990 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 229 carries, while adding 360 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 54 receptions.
Despite his production, Brown was only on the field for 39.2% of the offensive snaps over the first eight games of the season. That’s expected to change dramatically in 2025-26, as Brown enters his first training camp as the clear No. 1 running back on the depth chart.
What Does Dan Pitcher See in Chase Brown’s Future?
As Brown prepares for an expanded role, he has received numerous compliments from the coaching staff. Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher shared lofty expectations for the third-year back, believing Brown’s breakout season was just the beginning.
Pitcher thinks the young running back reminds him of a 2024 All-Pro. Jori Epstein of Yahoo! Sports shared his comments, tweeting:
“Bengals coaches & players very high on RB Chase Brown. “I think Chase Brown is going to, by the end of the season, be a household name,” OC Dan Pitcher tells me. He’s everything that Austin Ekeler was. …I think that by the time the season’s over, [you’ll all] know who he is.”
Bengals coaches & players very high on RB Chase Brown.
“I think Chase Brown is going to, by the end of the season, be a household name,” OC Dan Pitcher tells me. He’s everything that Austin Ekeler was. …I think that by the time the season’s over, [you’ll all] know who he is.”
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) July 23, 2025
The comparison to Austin Ekeler carries serious weight. Ekeler has long been considered one of the most versatile running backs in the NFL. In his eight-year career, he has recorded 4,722 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns on 1,067 carries, while adding 4,250 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns on 475 receptions.
Ekeler’s 73 rushing and receiving touchdowns over that stretch rank eighth in the league, with no other player recording at least 40 rushing touchdowns and 30 receiving touchdowns in that span. He led the league in rushing and receiving touchdowns in both 2021 and 2022, finishing with 20 and 18, respectively.
While Brown has a lot to prove before being considered that level of a dual-threat running back, he figures to play a much bigger role in Cincinnati’s offensive attack. The Bengals will look to utilize the running game to help superstar quarterback Joe Burrow, with Brown positioned as the focal point of that strategy.
