Sam Hubbard, longtime Cincinnati Bengals defensive end, shocked the football world by announcing his retirement at 29 after seven seasons. The Ohio State alum, who played his entire career in Cincinnati, expressed gratitude toward teammates, coaches, and fans.
Sam Hubbard Retires From NFL
Hubbard announced his retirement on social media with a heartfelt message.
“I want to send a sincere thank you to my teammates, coaches, trainers, support staff, Bengals ownership, and the NFL for everything you all have done for me,” Hubbard said on social media. “I could not have done any of this alone. To the fans — Who Dey Nation — I thank you the most; you inspired me. From the years of struggle and adversity to Super Bowl LVI, you never stopped believing. I hope I made you proud.”
— Sam Hubbard (@Sam_Hubbard_) March 5, 2025
Cincinnati native Sam Hubbard, the Bengals’ longest-tenured player retired after seven seasons. The only player remaining from before Zac Taylor’s 2019 arrival, Hubbard’s journey began at Archbishop Moeller High School before starring at Ohio State. His dream became reality when Cincinnati selected him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
As news spread, fans and former teammates flooded social media with gratitude.
Fans React to Hubbard’s Retirement
“Gonna miss him on Bengals,” one fan shared, while another added, “Thank you Sam! Job well done!”
“Thank you for being a great Bengal and helping to turn the team around!!,” a fan quipped.
“Wish you nothing but the best on your new chapter in your life Sam! The fumble in the jungle will always be one of my fondest memories as a Bengals fan,” another said.
“You’re a legend Sam. Thank you for representing and only playing for the state of Ohio,” a fan remarked.
“Sam always has been and always will be a wonderful part of the Bengals organization and the entire Cincinnati community,” Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement.
“Growing up here, he was a top youth athlete on local gridirons and lacrosse fields before becoming a standout football player at Ohio State. We were fortunate to draft him in 2018, and we immediately knew that we added an outstanding player and an even better person to our team.”
“Sam epitomizes what you want in a player — he’s a great teammate, a talented athlete and a passionate community member,” Brown added.
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Hubbard began his college football career at Ohio State in 2014, redshirting his first season. The following year, as a redshirt freshman, he made an immediate impact, appearing in all 13 games and recording 28 tackles along with 6.5 sacks.
His role expanded in 2016 when he became a full-time starter as a redshirt sophomore, finishing the season with 46 tackles and 3.5 sacks across 13 starts.
In 2017, during his redshirt junior season, Hubbard played in 14 games and delivered a career-best performance with seven sacks while also tallying 42 tackles. After three productive seasons on the field, he announced his decision to enter the 2018 NFL Draft on Dec. 30, 2017.
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