The Cincinnati Bengals had nothing to play for in their regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns, but that didn’t stop Chase Brown from making Canadian history.
The running back from London, Ont., rushed 13 times for 72 yards and added four catches for 18 yards, compiling 90 combined yards in the 20-18 loss. That performance gave him 1,456 yards on the season, breaking Rueben Mayes’ record for single-season yards from scrimmage by a Canadian in the NFL.
“I thought he had an outstanding season and very dependable for us. Has really worked hard to be the player that he is, and so for the production to match that, I’m really proud of Chase,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “These milestones and achievements are bittersweet when they happen like this (in a loss). But at the same time, when a player puts a lot into his work, and his craft, and his career, you’re happy to see them reach those milestones that will be with them forever.”
Mayes set the previous record of 1,449 yards exactly 40 years ago during his rookie year with the New Orleans Saints in 1986. That marked the first time that a player from north of the border had ever crossed the 1,000-yard threshold on the ground. Brown also accomplished that feat on his first carry of the second half on Sunday, joining Mayes and Chuba Hubbard as the only players in that exclusive club.
In addition to his yardage record, Brown equalled the Canadian NFL single-season touchdown mark when he scored his 11th of the year on a four-yard reception in the first quarter. That has been accomplished four times previously, by Nate Burleson in 2007, Chase Claypool in 2021, Hubbard in 2024, and Brown himself last season.
The 25-year-old is already the owner of two of the greatest seasons by a Canadian in league history after completing just his third year with the Bengals. The former fifth-round pick out of the University of Illinois has appeared in 45 career games, rushing 505 times for 2,188 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 137 receptions for 953 yards and 10 majors through the air.
Brown has one more year remaining on his contract in Cincinnati and will have earned more than $4.1 million before he is eligible to test free agency in 2027. The Bengals failed to qualify for the NFL playoffs this year, finishing 6-11.
