Injuries are an unfortunate hazard of playing professional football. Players know they come with the job when they sign contracts that could make them millionaires.
A player gets hurt, coaches say, "next man up," and life in the locker room goes on as usual.
The exception to that rule occurred in the Browns' locker room after Nick Chubb was injured in the second game of 2023 when Chubb carried the ball on a run inside the Pittsburgh 10 and Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick went low to tackle him.
Chubb grabbed at his left knee. He could not stand. Tests revealed he suffered a torn ACL, torn MCL, structural damage to his meniscus and damage to the medial capsule. According to radiopaedia.org , the medial capsule is "The outer layer of the knee capsule consists of fibrous connective tissue to hold the joint in place, whereas the inner layer consists of a synovial membrane, which secretes synovial fluid into the joint to provide lubrication."
Some in the national media skewered Fitzpatrick, accusing him of a dirty hit. Chubb never joined the chorus.
In the days that followed, numerous players in the Browns locker room showed their support for Chubb by wearing T-shirts bearing his likeness. His good friend and running mate in the Browns backfield, Kareem Hunt, wore a "24" jersey to the Browns' next game (not during the game) to honor Chubb.
Those kinds of things just don't normally happen, but Chubb was so respected and revered by his teammates for beyond what he contributed on the field that they felt compelled to show him what he meant to them. Chubb's work ethic and humility were unmatched.
Chubb, 30, was never the same after the injury, though he played eight games with the Browns in 2024 and 15 with the Texans in 2025, totaling 838 yards and four touchdowns.
Chubb announced his retirement from the NFL on Aug. 21 after eight seasons. He was not in an NFL camp this summer. He didn't want to be with a team and be cut. He wanted to go out on his own terms. And he did.
"Today's the day I've been avoiding for a while," Chubb wrote on Instagram. "Twelve-year-old me could never imagine this day, and 30-year-old me is wondering where all the time has gone. I've known for some time now, but I'm finally ready to share that I'm done playing football. I wanted to end my career on a healthy note, along with a winning season, and I was able to do that.
"Football was a huge blessing in my life. It opened so many doors, gave me opportunities I never could have imagined, and allowed me to meet some amazing people. I'm grateful for everyone I crossed paths with across the way, and I promise I took something from each of you."
In an era where athletes pound their chests and celebrate the most minor accomplishments, Chubb never drew attention to himself. He scored 54 career touchdowns. Instead of spiking the ball, he handed it to an official. There were a few times when he kept the ball and took it to the sideline, as he did after scoring his first touchdown after returning from the knee injury (Oct. 20, 2024 vs. the Bengals in his first game back), but that was about it. That is why his teammates loved him.
One can only imagine what kind of career Chubb would have had had he not been injured. He rushed for 6,843 yards before being hurt — all with the Browns — and only 838 yards after the injury. Only Jim Brown (12,312) and Leroy Kelly (7,242) have more rushing yards than Chubb in Browns history.
Only three players in NFL history averaged 5-plus yards a carry, 70-plus rushing yards a game and 50-plus career touchdowns. Chubb was one of them — a 5.0 average, a 73.5-yards per game average and 54 rushing touchdowns. The others were Jim Brown (5.2-yards per carry, 104.3 yards per game plus 106 rushing touchdowns) and Detroit Lions star Barry Sanders (5.0 yards per carry, 99.8 yards per game and 99 rushing touchdowns). Brown and Sanders are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Great numbers for sure for Nick Chubb, but the lasting memory will be his teammates wearing his jersey number and Nick Chubb T-shirts in the locker room when Chubb was too injured to be with them.
