David Njoku, the charismatic tight end whose athleticism and larger-than-life personality made him a mainstay in Cleveland, has bid an emotional farewell to the Browns and their fans after nine seasons. With his contract set to void in March 2026, Njoku took to Instagram on February 9 to share a heartfelt message: "Cleveland, first off I love you. These 9 years have been a beautiful journey. I’m so grateful for all the memories we shared together. Thank you to The Haslams, Andrew Berry and the whole browns organization for everything!! All my teammates I shared the battle with I’m so grateful for you guys. The time for me to find a new home has come and all I can think of is just the gratefulness in my heart. The city of Cleveland will forever be home❤️ #ChiefOut"
Njoku’s departure marks the end of an era for the Browns. Drafted at just 20 years old as the No. 29 overall pick out of the University of Miami in 2017, he arrived in Northeast Ohio as a raw talent with sky-high potential. Over the course of nine seasons, he transformed into a fan favorite and one of the franchise’s most productive tight ends. He started 88 of 118 games, amassing 384 receptions for 4,062 yards and 34 touchdowns—numbers that place him second only to Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome in team history for tight ends.
Njoku’s journey in Cleveland was anything but ordinary. He played for three full-time head coaches and an interim, endured a revolving door at quarterback—16 different starters, by most counts—and weathered both personal and professional adversity. His resilience was perhaps best exemplified in 2023, when he suffered severe burns to his face and arms in a firepit accident, only to return two days later and finish the season with career highs: 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns, earning him his first Pro Bowl selection. "When it happened, my eyes were open, so I saw everything and I really should have been blinded," Njoku recounted. "So luckily I’m not. I give all the glory to God."
Yet, for all his highs, Njoku’s tenure was also marked by challenges. The Browns struggled for consistency, making the playoffs only twice during his time—2020 and 2023—and rarely finding stability at the quarterback position. Njoku himself battled injuries, including a knee issue in 2025 that limited him to 12 games, 33 catches, 293 yards, and four touchdowns. That season, rookie Harold Fannin Jr., a third-round pick out of Bowling Green, emerged as the team’s leading tight end with 72 receptions for 731 yards and six touchdowns.
Njoku’s contract situation added another layer of complexity. In 2022, he signed a four-year, $54.75 million extension, which was later restructured to add void years and delay salary cap costs. As a result, the Browns will carry $24 million in cap charges related to Njoku’s deal, including $9.5 million in 2026 and $14.8 million in 2027. With the team looking to get younger on offense and embarking on a significant rebuild—highlighted by the firing of head coach Kevin Stefanski and the hiring of Todd Monken—Njoku’s future in Cleveland became increasingly uncertain.
General manager Andrew Berry acknowledged the winds of change sweeping through the organization. "On the offensive side of the ball, we looked and we felt like we had a number of young, pillar, cornerstone pieces, but we envision a world where that side of the ball is going to have pretty significant turnover over the next several months," Berry stated last week.
Despite rumors of a trade at the 2025 deadline, Njoku publicly expressed his desire to stay. "I’m happy. It’s because I’m here," he said after the deadline passed. When pressed about the possibility of being dealt, he replied, "Of course, it’s always a possibility. This is the NFL, man, you know what I mean? But I’m in Cleveland, baby. I’m not going nowhere. I ain’t f****** leaving. Get that on camera." Yet, following the season-ending win in Cincinnati, Njoku struck a more reflective tone: "I do [want to return], but it’s not up to me."
Njoku’s relationship with the Browns’ coaching staff evolved over time. He butted heads with Kevin Stefanski early on, but the two developed mutual respect. Stefanski, who was let go after the 2025 season, spoke highly of his tight end: "He thinks I didn’t like him when I first got here, which is not true. I just told him the truth and he didn’t like that. But to watch him mature and become a leader, the energy he brings in the building, the unbelievable plays that he’s made over the years—I always think to that fourth down versus Tampa where he was banged up on—we tried to throw him a screen the play before he got tackled, twisted his leg. So he’s got a bum leg and he goes up and makes that catch. So I think the world of the person. Obviously disappointed for this season and the injuries, but I think very highly of the person."
Njoku’s on-field moments were often unforgettable. His signature “Chief Slam” celebrations became a staple after touchdowns, and his athletic feats—such as his acrobatic, game-tying catch against Tom Brady’s Buccaneers in 2022—cemented his reputation as a clutch performer. Off the field, Njoku’s personality shone just as brightly: he was known for going shirtless, even in freezing temperatures, and for blaring music in the locker room. His bond with teammates, especially fellow 2017 first-rounder Myles Garrett, was evident. Njoku’s last official act as a Brown was placing an imaginary crown on Garrett’s head after the defensive end set the NFL single-season sack record in the season finale against the Bengals.
Njoku’s career in Cleveland wasn’t without its tumult. He requested trades in 2019 and 2020, frustrated by changes in coaching and the arrival of new tight ends. But by the time his extension was signed in 2022, he was all-in, telling cleveland.com, "For me, I’m Cleveland ride or die." That loyalty never wavered publicly, even as his role diminished in 2025 and the writing on the wall became clearer.
With the Browns poised for a new chapter—rookie Harold Fannin Jr. leading the tight end room, a new head coach at the helm, and a major youth movement underway—Njoku leaves behind a legacy defined by perseverance, passion, and production. His 384 catches and 34 touchdowns are the most for any Browns player since the team’s return to the NFL in 1999, and his impact on the locker room and the city will not soon be forgotten.
As free agency approaches, Njoku’s next destination remains unknown. But for Cleveland fans, the memories of the “Chief” will linger—a testament to a player who, through highs and lows, gave everything to the franchise and the city he now calls home.