Breaking: Chase Brown sets new Canadian NFL record for single-season yards from scrimmage

Chase Brown Breaks Rueben Mayes’ Canadian NFL Single-Season Yards Record

Even with nothing on the line in the Cincinnati Bengals’ regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns, Chase Brown made history for Canadian players in the NFL.

The running back from London, Ontario, rushed 13 times for 72 yards and caught four passes for 18 yards, totaling 90 yards from scrimmage in the Bengals’ 20-18 loss. That performance pushed his season total to 1,456 yards, surpassing Rueben Mayes’ 1986 record of 1,449 yards for single-season yards from scrimmage by a Canadian player.

“I thought he had an outstanding season and was very dependable for us,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylorsaid. “He’s really worked hard to be the player that he is, and so for the production to match that, I’m really proud of Chase. These milestones and achievements are bittersweet when they happen like this (in a loss), but when a player puts a lot into his work and craft, you’re happy to see them reach milestones that will be with them forever.”

Brown has one year remaining on his Bengals contract and is set to earn more than $4.1 million before becoming eligible for free agency in 2027. Cincinnati finished the season 6-11, missing the NFL playoffs.

Mayes’ previous record was set exactly 40 years ago, during his rookie campaign with the New Orleans Saints, marking the first time a Canadian had ever surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in the NFL. Brown joined Mayes and Chuba Hubbard as the only Canadians to reach that milestone on his first carry of the second half against Cleveland.

In addition to breaking the yardage record, Brown tied the Canadian single-season touchdown record, scoring his 11th touchdown of the year on a four-yard reception in the first quarter. That mark has previously been reached by Nate Burleson (2007), Chase Claypool (2021), Hubbard (2024), and by Brown himself last season.

At just 25 years old, Brown has already recorded two of the greatest seasons by a Canadian in NFL history.

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 touchdowns through the air.