The Cleveland Browns could use a veteran running back presence and franchise legend Nick Chubb remains without a team.
Adam “The Bull” Gerstenhaber floated the idea of bringing franchise legend Nick Chubb back to Cleveland this offseason as the team looks to build its running back room around Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson heading into 2026.
“I was thinking about the Browns’ roster, and I’m looking for an area where they might want to sign a veteran for depth. How about this? Bring back Nick Chubb,” Gerstenhaber said on The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show. “Bring him back as a veteran third back. I know you can go with a young guy as the third back, but wouldn’t it be cool if you had a veteran? Nick would know his role at this point. You bring him in every once in a while. Bring him in. We need a third back. Let’s go.”
The idea is not without merit. Chubb remains an unsigned free agent after one season in Houston, and at 31 years old, there is still a case to be made for the four-time Pro Bowler as a low-cost, high-character presence behind two second-year backs.
Nick Chubb Remains a Legend in Cleveland
Chubb spent the first seven seasons of his NFL career in Cleveland after the Browns selected him in the second round of the 2018 draft out of Georgia.
After finishing with 996 yards as a rookie, Chubb rattled off four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons. His best year came in 2022, when he finished with 1,525 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
A devastating knee injury altered Chubb’s trajectory. He suffered a torn MCL and damaged ACL in Week 2 of the 2023 season, a gruesome knee injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. He returned in 2024 but rushed for just 332 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry. In Week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Chubb broke his foot, ending his season early for the second straight year.
Cleveland did not bring him back. He signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Houston Texans. The Browns’ owners, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, gave him an emotional sendoff.
“Nick has always been about hard work and letting his play on the field do the talking for him. We are so grateful for the many moments he created on the field that we will never forget,” the owners said in a statement. “Thank you for being a Brown, Nick, and we look forward to the day we celebrate your career as a member of our Ring of Honor.”
Chubb finished last season with 122 carries for 506 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He was meant to back up Joe Mixon but opened the season atop the depth chart before Woody Marks eventually pushed him aside for the lead role.
The Browns’ Current Backfield Picture
The Browns are planning to build their new-look offense around Judkins and Sampson. They drafted both last season after moving on from Chubb.
Judkins rushed for 827 yards and seven touchdowns over 14 games as a rookie. He closed his debut campaign with a significant ankle injury, dislocating his right ankle and fracturing his fibula in Week 16. The Browns believe he’ll be ready to go for the start of training camp.
Sampson had 98 touches for 446 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. Where Sampson made his mark as a rookie was in the passing game, catching 33 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
Raheim Sanders and Ahmani Marshall are the other options on the depth chart for the Browns.
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