As Nick Chubb may know, reunions are rarely given by NFL general managers. Of course, there are certain occasions when players have gone back to their first teams (see: Cam Newton and DeSean Jackson and Brock Osweiler), but once teams move on, they tend to move on for good.
Chubb hasn’t logged a single snap for a franchise other than the Cleveland Browns, but he’s going to need to unless his former team has a sudden change of heart. When asked about the possibility of bringing Chubb back in 2025, Browns general manager Andrew Berry didn’t exactly prop the door open.
Browns GM Andrew Berry Explains Why He Can’t Let Players Stick Around ‘Until They’re 45’
Speaking to Cleveland’s “92.3 The Fan” on May 9 (via Pro Football Talk), Berry claimed he would love players like Chubb to stick around until they’re in their mid-40s but was quick to explain why he wasn’t going to allow it.
“I wouldn’t rule anything out, but I would say it’s probably increasingly unlikely,” Berry said. “We do have two young guys that we like. We think Jerome plays a role. It’s basically kind of maybe seeing how the roles shake out in the running backs room.”
Berry added: “But the reality of it is, look, I’d love for key players in our organization to stay with us forever, play until they’re 45. Unfortunately, this sport doesn’t allow that. And so that’s part of the tough parts of the job, but it doesn’t change how you view, or treat, or feel about the guys who have come through as people.”
In other words, Berry thanked Chubb for his service and closed the door to a reunion. In his career with the franchise, dating back to 2018, Chubb went to four Pro Bowls while notching four 1,000-yard seasons.
Chubb ranks No. 3 on the Browns’ all-time list in both rushing yards (6,843) and rushing touchdowns (51). He also has the seventh-most career rushing yards out of active running backs in the NFL.
Exploring Potential Landing Spots, Including the Titans and Bengals
Chubb is still a free agent, which means that his next landing spot will likely feature him as a backup. The most obvious one could be the Tennessee Titans. They used only a sixth-round pick to get running back Kalel Mullings out of Michigan. Chubb could make sense to bolster the room further.
The Cincinnati Bengals also make sense as they have some opportunity to shore up their running back depth. If nothing else, they could set up some friendly competition among oft-injured starters Chase Brown and Zack Moss.
The Arizona Cardinals are another team to watch as a dark-horse candidate in the NFC. Veteran James Conner tops the depth chart, with second-year back Trey Benson likely pushing him for snaps in 2025.
Of course, Chubb also could wait to see if a spot opens up via injury when things get underway in August and September.
