Nick Chubb has been one of the NFL’s best running backs since entering the league in 2018 with the Cleveland Browns. The four-time Pro Bowler’s career has hit a snag thanks to a brutal knee injury early in the 2023 season.
Chubb is likely to suit up for another team in 2025, and reports are that he’s close to a deal with an AFC contender.
Nick Chubb’s Cleveland Browns Career Ends as RB Nears Deal With Houston Texans
Cleveland selected Chubb in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and he made an immediate impact, rushing for 996 yards and eight touchdowns while adding 20 catches, 149 yards, and two scores through the air. The Browns struggled early in 2018, but finished 7-8-1 on the backs of Chubb and fellow rookie Baker Mayfield.
Chubb cemented himself as one of the league’s best ball carriers over the next four seasons. He eclipsed 1,000 yards and was named to the Pro Bowl each of those seasons, and helped the Browns make the playoffs in 2020.
His best season was 2022, when Chubb was named second-team All-Pro after rushing for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 27 receptions, 239 yards, and a receiving score. Things went downhill quickly after that as Chubb suffered a torn MCL and damaged ACL in Week 2 of the 2023 campaign.
He played in eight games last season, posting 332 yards and three touchdowns on 102 carries. Cleveland’s offseason moves essentially closed the door on Chubb returning, and NFL insider Ian Rappoport recently tweeted that the running back is expected to sign with the Houston Texans, pending he passes a physical.
The #Browns had discussions with Nick Chubb prior to the NFL Draft, but the two sides could not agree on a deal. Cleveland turned to the Draft and Houston set its eyes on Chubb. Assuming all goes well on Monday, he should land with the #Texans to join Joe Mixon. https://t.co/AcJxXfcYmA
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 8, 2025
Rapoport responded to an earlier tweet with, “The #Browns had discussions with Nick Chubb prior to the NFL Draft, but the two sides could not agree on a deal. Cleveland turned to the Draft and Houston set its eyes on Chubb. Assuming all goes well on Monday, he should land with the #Texans to join Joe Mixon.”
NFL writer Christian Gonzales recently wrote about Chubb’s career path and what’s led him to sign with the Texans. Cleveland’s 2025 NFL Draft strategy and GM Andrew Berry’s post-draft comments essentially ended Cubb’s hopes of returning.
Gonzales wrote, “The Browns selected running backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in April’s draft to join Jerome Ford in the backfield. General manager Andrew Berry stated afterward in May that bringing back the four-time Pro Bowler was increasingly unlikely, so Chubb landing elsewhere has been anticipated for some time.”
Chubb Could Take Texans’ Ground Game to the Next Level
The Texans won the AFC South for the second straight season in 2024, but did it with the 28th-ranked offense according to PFSN’s Offense+ metric. Houston’s offensive line finished 32nd in PFSN’s OL+ metric, and CJ Stroud regressed after a stellar rookie campaign.
One bright spot for Houston was Joe Mixon. The veteran made the Pro Bowl in his first season with the club after posting 1,016 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in 14 games. Dameon Pierce was the team’s second-leading rusher at 293 yards, so the ground game’s production sharply fell after Mixon.
It’s unclear how much Chubb has left in the tank, but he’s still dangerous when fully healthy. He’s entering a running back room where he won’t be the featured ball carrier, and this should help him be situationally productive.
Houston represents a clean slate for Chubb, who was on his way to a Hall of Fame career with the Browns. His time in Cleveland didn’t end how he or the team wanted, but landing with the Texans gives him a chance to contend for a Super Bowl.