Nick Chubb contract details: Former Browns running back expected to join Joe Mixon in star-studded Texans backfield

After remaining a free agent deep into the NFL offseason, former Browns running back Nick Chubb is expected to be heading to Houston, per Diana Russini. The longtime weapon in Cleveland has reportedly agreed to terms with the Texans, pending a physical.

Chubb spent the past seven seasons with the Browns, who drafted him out of Georgia before he became one of the league's best running backs. Injuries have limited his impact the past two seasons, so Chubb heading elsewhere isn't too much of a surprise. Browns general manager Andrew Berry said he "expected" the running back to enter the open market early in the offseason.

While his NFL peak is likely in the past, Chubb is set to provide Houston with another strong weapon for C.J. Stroud and join another talented veteran in the backfield in Joe Mixon.

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

Let's take a look at Chubb's new deal with the Texans, as well as run through his career history.

MORE NFL NEWS:

• Complete winners, losers of schedule release
• Early 2025 schedule predictions
• Ranking the five best and worst prime-time games

Nick Chubb contract details

• Team: Texans
• Years: 1
• Value: TBD

Chubb's new deal with Houston is expected to be worth one year, per Russini, with the amount still unknown. Russini also reported that Chubb received "more lucrative offers" in free agency, but he's instead expected to land in Houston on a "more incentive-laden contract."

Chubb was the 30th highest-paid running back in 2024, earning $2.2 million in total cash last season, per Sportrac. He was behind Jaguars running back Travis Etienne and just ahead of Raiders running back Alexander Mattison.

His new star counterpart in the backfield, Mixon, is currently the eighth highest-paid running back in the NFL.

MORE: Why the Steelers chose to sign Aaron Rodgers

Nick Chubb age

Born on Dec. 27, 1995 in Cedartown, Ga., Chubb is entering his age-29 season.

Although Chubb is at the age where RBs begin to decline — especially ones with his injury history — it appears as though the Texans believe the 29-year-old Chubb has some solid years, or at least one year, left in him.  

Nick Chubb stats

Nick Chubb was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, at No. 35th overall by the Browns. During his rookie season, he finished with 996 yards and eight touchdowns, taking reps behind veterans Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson. 

He had a breakout season in 2019, rushing for 1,494 yards and eight touchdowns and adding another 278 receiving yards. He had three straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2020-22, with his best season coming in 2022. That year, he rushed for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding another 239 yards receiving and a touchdown through the air. 

He helped Cleveland make the playoffs for the first time since 2002 back in 2020 when he rushed for 1,067 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

In 2023, he played in just two games, suffering a torn MCL and meniscus during Cleveland's Week 2 game against the Steelers. Last season for the Browns, he made his return during Cleveland's Week 7 game against the Bengals. He played in just eight games last season, breaking his foot during Cleveland's Week 15 loss to the Chiefs.    

Chubb is a four-time Pro Bowler and was named a second-team All-Pro in 2022. 

MORE NFL NEWS

• Full 272-game NFL schedule for 2025 season
• Who Cowboys, Lions are playing on Thanksgiving
• Chiefs, Cowboys highlight Christmas tripleheader
• Complete list of TNF, SNF, MNF prime-time games

Nick Chubb injury history 

As mentioned above, Chubb has had several major injuries during his football career. Here's a quick run through them, via Draft Sharks: 

• Dec. 2024: Broken foot 
• Sept. 2023: Torn right MCL and damaged ACL
• Jan. 2022: Rib injury (played through) 
• Oct. 2021: Calf strain 
• Oct. 2020: MCL sprain, placed on short-term injured reserve list 
• Oct. 2015: Torn PCL, MCL and LCL in left knee at Georgia. 

Nick Chubb career earnings

Per Sportrac, Chubb has made $36,384,558 over his seven seasons with the Browns. 

Chubb's rookie contract he signed with the Browns was worth $7.38 million over four years. In July 2021, he signed a three-year deal with the Browns that gave him $36 million. Prior to the 2024-25 season, he signed a one-year $2.275 million restructured contract with Cleveland. 

Texans RB depth chart

While Chubb is a big-name running back who has four 1,000-yard rushing seasons to his name, the expectation is that he'll play second fiddle in Houston — or, at the very least, split carries with Mixon.

Because Chubb has been hampered with injuries over the past two seasons, he's entering a "prove-it" kind of situation with the Texans, but he should still have plenty of opportunities to contribute to winning football. Houston, which went 10-7 and won a wild-card game last season, relied on Mixon for plenty of offense. The former Bengals back, who was traded to Houston after the 2023 season, totaled 1,016 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024, still one of the most consistent weapons in the league.

Between Mixon's reliability and Chubb's recent injury history — and a career-low 3.3 yards per carry last season — the former Browns star won't be the surefire RB1 he once was. His strong frame should make him an elite goal-line and short-range running back for the Texans in 2025, though.

Behind Mixon and Chubb will likely be Dameon Pierce, who is entering his fourth year in Houston after being drafted by the team in 2022. Pierce had a strong rookie season, posting 939 yards on the ground, but he's fallen down the pecking order of Houston's backfield since then, especially due to Mixon's arrival in 2024. Next season, Pierce is set to be a backup option behind the two decorated stars.