Nick Chubb Hyped by Kevin Stefanski After NFL Retirement, 'One of the Greatest I've Been Around'

After announcing his retirement, Nick Chubb is getting high praise from one of his former coaches.

"He's one of the greatest I've been around," Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski—who was the coach of the Cleveland Browns from 2020 to 2025—told The MMQB's Albert Breer.

Stefanski also revealed that the running back was his "favorite" player.

"He was everybody's favorite player—and that's his teammates' favorite, his coaches' favorite," Stefanski told Breer. "I know I'm not supposed to have favorites, but he was my favorite. I always get that question from young kids: Who's your favorite player? And I know you're not supposed to say, kind of like you're not supposed to say who your favorite kid is, but I would always reply, Nick Chubb. He was a joy to coach."

Stefanski also praised Chubb's work ethic, which included the running back working out at 7 a.m.

"He wasn't doing it for anyone to see, I know that to be a fact," Stefanski told Breer. "But, man, it's this quiet, disciplined mentality that I think just permeated through the entire locker room, which is so, so, so rare in this day and age."

Chubb announced his retirement from the NFL on Aug. 21, ending an eight-year career.

Chubb spent seven years with the Cleveland Browns before spending the final year of his career with the Houston Texans in 2025.

In his lone year in Houston, Chubb racked up 506 yards and three touchdowns on 122 carries while also adding 13 catches for 67 yards. Despite his steady production, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reported after the Texans' season ended that he "likely won't" be back with the team in 2026.

Chubb was once regarded as one of the best running backs in the NFL, compiling four straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2019 to 2022. Unfortunately, his career took a turn when he suffered a torn MCL and a damaged ACL just two games into the 2023 campaign, and he's been chasing his old form ever since.

Chubb piled up 7,349 yards and 54 touchdowns on the ground throughout his career, adding 1,109 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions. He earned four straight Pro Bowl nods from 2019 to 2022.