Roughly a few hours after his life changed forever, Nick Chubb just wanted to practice.
Chubb on Monday signed a three-year extension that will keep him in Cleveland through the 2024 season. It was a landmark moment in the career of the two-time Pro Bowl running back, whose selfless, no-nonsense approach endeared himself to his teammates, coaches and fans alike.
Not that anyone expected anything otherwise, Chubb showed he hadn't changed a bit when he had his first opportunity to discuss the extension. He just wanted another shot at getting ready for his fourth NFL season.
"I am relieved it is behind us now," Chubb said. "Just coming out here ready to practice. I know all of that has been handled. It is taken care of. I am very happy where I am. I get to come out here and focus on getting better every day."
Even when there wasn't a practice awaiting him, Chubb wasn't up for much in the way of a celebration. When he and the team agreed to terms after Saturday's practice, Chubb said he simply went home and called it a night.
There wasn't an official celebration Monday, either — "I wasn't invited if there was one," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. — but players found a way to pry a smile or two out of the typically stone-faced running back.
Kareem Hunt, who fully admits he enjoys talking and laughing it up more than Chubb, has been in his teammate's ear ever since the news broke of a potential extension. He's one of many teammates who celebrated the news in a way that showed how much respect Chubb has generated in his three seasons with the Browns.
"Kareem said, 'Wagyu steaks on me.' That is all he keeps saying," Chubb said. "I know he is excited. I am excited to get out there and for me and him to get that going like we have been."
Nick Chubb, a two-time Pro Bowler who has already established himself as one of the best running backs in team history and has been among the league's best at the position over the past three years, signed a three-year extension that runs through the 2024 season.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on January 10, 2021 at Heinz Field. The Browns won 48-37.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL Monday Night Football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 14, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 47-42.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on January 3, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24 -22.
Cleveland Browns vs Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado on December 15, 2018.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on September 17, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 35-30.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Washington Football Team and Cleveland Browns on September 27, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 34-20.
Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns game on October 13, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
1946 Jersey Reveal Photoshoot
Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns game on November 10, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
1946 Jersey Reveal Photoshoot
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns on November 15, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 10-7.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during the third day of minicamp on June 17, 2021.
1946 Jersey Reveal Photoshoot
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL divisional round playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs on January 17, 2021 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Browns lost 17-22.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Washington Football Team and Cleveland Browns on September 27, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 34-20.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals game on December 29, 2019 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on January 3, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24 -22.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during practice on January 13, 2021.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on January 3, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24 -22.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on January 3, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24 -22.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns on November 22, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 22-17.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on November 29, 2020 at TIAA Bank Field. The Browns won 27-25.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) and Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) after a NFL football game between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns on November 15, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 10-7.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during a NFL football game between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns on November 15, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 10-7.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns on November 22, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 22-17.
Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 30, 2018
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns on December 23, 2018 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) after a NFL football game between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns on November 15, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 10-7.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during practice on August 30, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys on October 4, 2020 at AT&T Stadium. The Browns won 49 - 38.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on September 17, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 35-30.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) before an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on September 17, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 35-30.
2020 Media Day
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) before a NFL football game between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns on November 15, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 10-7.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during workouts on August 3, 2020
Atlanta Falcons at Cleveland Browns on November 11, 2018 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals game on December 15, 2019 at State Farm Stadium.
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns game on December 8, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals game on December 15, 2019 at State Farm Stadium.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns game on December 22, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers game on December 1, 2019 at Heinz Field.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during practice on November 20, 2019.
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers game on December 1, 2019 at Heinz Field.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) and Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) during practice on November 6, 2019.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns game on November 14, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns game on November 14, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots game on October 27, 2019 at Gillette Stadium.
Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns game on November 10, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens game on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during practice on October 15, 2019
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens game on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers game on October 7, 2019 at Levi's Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens game on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Los Angeles Rams at Cleveland Browns game on September 22, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens game on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during practice on September 18, 2019
during the first of two joint practices with the Colts in Indianapolis.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during the eleventh day of training camp on August 5, 2019.
Media Days 2019
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during the sixth practice of OTAs on May 23, 2019.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during the fifth day of training camp on July 29, 2019.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during the first day of minicamp on June 4, 2019.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during the fifth day of training camp on July 29, 2019.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 9th, 2018
The contract talk is behind Chubb, and another season of big expectations for him, Hunt and a Browns running attack that was among the NFL's most dangerous in 2020 awaits. And there's plenty of reason to believe it can be even better considering it will be the second full season of Chubb and Hunt working together out of the backfield with a coaching staff that knows them well and a fully returning offensive line that, when healthy, proved to be among the best in the NFL.
Chubb, in particular, has reason to believe he'll be able to produce at a higher level after missing the first four games of his NFL career during the first half of last season. Still, despite playing just 11 full games, Chubb led the Browns in 2020 with 1,067 yards and 12 touchdowns, becoming the first player since Mercury Morris in 1972 to rush for more than 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns on 190 or fewer attempts. With 28 career touchdowns, Chubb already ranks seventh in Browns' history. He's sixth with 3,557 yards.
Perhaps most impressively, Chubb averaged a whopping 10 yards per carry in the fourth quarter of games last season. Most of those carries — including an unforgettable, breakaway run against the Texans in which he purposely went out of bounds at the 1-yard line to ice the game — came at the end of victories.
Those, to Chubb, were the most satisfying moments and are what he's most looking forward to in 2021 and beyond. Everything else — contract extension included — is already long in the rearview mirror.
"The next step is just getting better," Chubb said. "Building off of last year with the momentum we have and continue to grow team chemistry and putting everything in place so we can go out there and become an even better team.
"I love it here in Cleveland. I love this team. I love the coaches. I love the position that I am in. I can't ask for anything better than where I am. Cleveland is where I want to be. I am happy to be able to get that done so I can be here for even more years."
