RB Nick Chubb (6.7.23)
I know you talked about it a little bit of your camp be other night, but talk a little bit about Jim Brown and his passing. Yeah, it’s obviously horrible news for everyone a part of this organization in this entire state and the entire USA. But me personally, being able to know him was definitely special, definitely a blessing. Being drafted here and playing after such a great running back was a blessing.
What about the fact that he was instrumental in helping to draft you in some ways? They sent him some tape of you and he just loved you right from the start. What did that mean to you? It’s funny. Joe Sheehan has been telling me that story since I got here. I never believed him until I got a text from Dorsey telling me that it was true after he passed away. Just hearing that, it was a blessing. He saw something in me and it’s special. I’m definitely playing for him from here on out.
What were your interactions with him like? Did you get a chance to talk to him about just running and just the physical nature of how he did his job? Did you have those conversations with him? We never really got too much in detail. I think the biggest part was just talking to him in general, just learning life from him and him just being here, being around that’s more than anything you can ask for.
What’s I guess the most impactful thing that you took away from those conversations with him? The most impactful thing is probably just stand for what you believe in. He was a strong man. He stood for a lot of things and he was himself. I think that’s the biggest thing I take from it. Just always be true to yourself.
Hey, Nick, have you been in touch with Kareem (Hunt)? What’s going on with hin? I haven’t talked too much about football. Kareem’s like a brother to me, so we’ve got a lot of things to talk about other than football right now. But he’s doing great. He’s from Cleveland, so he’s around here, he’s training, getting ready for whatever happens.
Nick, do you have any thoughts on how you guys could honor Jim this season? Would you be honored to wear the 32 on the helmet or on your jersey or something like that? I’m down for whatever they want to do. Hopefully something does come up like that, but whatever they come up with, I think we all agree that we’d like to do something.
Did you have any special kinship with him because of the fact that he was from Georgia? I don’t think we ever talked about that. But that is cool that he’s from Georgia and also play here in Cleveland. We have that in common.
And did you watch while you were here, did you watch a lot of his film? Did you watch his highlights and become real familiar with his running style? Definitely watched his highlights a couple times. It is amazing. He made crazy plays that no one has made sense. He was definitely different.
Nick, after games we’ll hear things like Nick Chubb is the first Browns running back to do this since Jim Brown. Whatever it is. What do you think when you hear something like that, you’re the first running back to do something since Jim Brown. I know it’s a big gap between when he played and I’m playing now. What he did stood for a long time, the yards, the stats, only in nine years. So it’s unbelievable what he was able to do in those in just nine years. It’s crazy.
Hey, Nick, you had twelve rushing touchdowns when Jacobi (Brissett) was the quarterback, but none after Deshaun (Watson) took over. So why did that happen? And how do you see your role now with Deshaun? You can’t really look at the numbers. Twelve is the most I’ve ever had since I’ve been here. I don’t think it had much to do with it. I think we did have to figure some things out, get the kinks out on offense and I don’t think I’m hindered by Deshaun at all.
Nick, Deshaun seems so much comfortable just on the field interactions with you guys, with us. Do you see a big difference in him from this time a year ago? I do. He’s a lot more calm, a lot more aware of what’s going on since I’ve been here last few days. He’s making crazy plays and he looks good.
Did you go to Puerto Rico? I did.
You usually play a few words, head down, always about your business. What keeps you consistent with and having that attitude every day? Just the way I approach my career, football, the way I approach everything. I’m always working to be better for my team, for Cleveland. I think that’s my mindset is to do what I can for everyone around me.
How do you think you and Jerome (Ford) will do together in terms of a one two punch and change up sort of thing? I think we’ll do good. Jerome’s really talented. He can catch the ball well. He’s extremely fast and smooth and he’s a great player.
Nick, I know that you answered a lot of questions about Jim Brown. I wanted to ask. By the end of the year you’ll be in second place on the Browns all-time rushing, about 4,000 or 5000 yards behind Jim Brown. Do you think your career in Cleveland could be extended enough for you to catch him? Who knows? Anything can happen. I like to take it one day at a time, not look too far ahead. But yes, we’ll see.
Would that be an extra motivation for you? I don’t get too caught up in that. Like I said, take a day at a time.
How about the fact that they renamed the rushing title the Jim Brown Award? I guess first your thoughts on that. And would it make it even more special now for you to win it, knowing that it’s the Jim Brown Award? I mean, altogether, it’s definitely special. It honors him and what he did here and across the nation. Probably the best running back to ever play football. So I think he definitely deserves it to be his name.
Most people on the outside see a new emphasis on the passing game, obviously with what’s going on here? And they wonder, will Nick Chubb get his touches, do you wonder? No, I’m not worried at all. I can’t control what I can’t control. When the ball is in my hand, I have full control, so I’m not worried about anything.
Coach is taking you guys to West Virginia to start training camp just your thoughts on that? And what do you think the benefit of that will be for you guys as a team? I think it’ll be good just to get away from Cleveland and focus on ourselves and just become closer, get the chemistry going. And Deshaun said that he went there before when he was in Houston, so he said it was fun. I think it’d be great for us to go get away for a while.