Sam Hubbard Announces Retirement at Age 29, Ending a Remarkable Seven-Year Bengals Career Filled with Iconic Moments and Community Impact

Sam Hubbard Retires at 29, Ending Bengals Career with Legacy

The NFL figure Sam Hubbard hailed as defensive support for the Cincinnati Bengals, has laid down tools, aged 29, which put the final signature behind his remarkable 7-year career. Time has shown that the one who was given the nickname “The Cincinnati Kid” was also a welfare receiver of the rehabilitation, intimate association, and sweet mirth, which, in turn, the change made it possible to heal the Bengals and the city for Cincinnati.

Sam Hubbard was a native of Cincinnati and was deeply connected with the city. He was a student at Archbishop Moeller High School, where he participated in football and lacrosse and then committed to his college football career at Ohio State University. It was in 2018 that his childhood dream finally became a reality when the Bengals picked him in the third round of the NFL Draft. In line with this reflection, Hubbard said, “I bled orange and black before I ever put on a Bengals jersey.”

Henceforth, during his tenure with the Bengals, Hubbard was a perfect example of standing out through leadership and stability. He appeared in 104 regular-season games and recorded 398 tackles, 38.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries. His versatility and never-ending devotion disciplined him to be the team captain for four consecutive seasons. Bengals president Mike Brown was praised for Hubbard, saying, “Sam epitomizes what you want in a player. He’s a great teammate, a talented athlete, and a passionate community member.

One of the key moments that has lodged Hubbard in the audience’s hearts was when he played in the 2022 AFC Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals won with a play called Fumble in the Jungle when Hubbard grabbed the fumble and sped for a 98-yard scoring play, the longest in franchise history.

Without denying the positive side of his performance, he has confronted some obstinate issues this and last year. In December 2024, he was seriously injured during a game against the Tennessee Titans when he got a torn PCL, which was by no means a light injury, landing him on the bench for the rest of the season. This was all in contrast to the goal he had achieved when he caught his first offensive touchdown pass at the 2-yard line of the game with Joe Burrow as his quarterback in the same game.

It has also been through his performances off the pitch that Hubbard established essential connections. In 2021, he inaugurated the Sam Hubbard Foundation, which aims to provide access to food, education, and healthy living easy and affordable for all in Cincinnati. His philanthropic activities have seen him get two. He is nominated for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which makes him the best player on and off the field.

The newly retired footballer Hubbard thanked on a personal Facebook page, mentioning his teammates, his coaches, and the Cincinnati community. He opined, “I know for sure that I have put my heart, soul, and more into that game, this team, and this city.” He also stressed his dedication to the city, saying, “I’m not going anywhere, and we are still just getting started.

Thus, Hubbard intended to be the main person who would drive the Sam Hubbard Foundation program, and other ventures that he will be engaged in will need his attention and his family. Sam Hubbard is no longer on the Bengals, and this does not happen without consequences as he is the player who played for the team and made Cincinnati live for quite a long time, although his influence will still be felt.

As he faces this breathless new life, the Bengals franchise and fans throw confetti at Hubbard for his company on the football field and in the real world, praying that he will be successful throughout the rest of his life. Bengals Sam Hubbard declares his retirement at the age of 29