One of the Most Unexpected NFL News: Sam Hubbard Retires at 29
One of the most surprising stories coming out of the NFL is the shocking retirement announcement of former defensive end Sam Hubbard, who is just 29 years old. Typically, players are at the peak of their careers at this age, making his decision even more unexpected.
Hubbard began his professional football journey in 2018, when the Cincinnati Bengals selected him in Round 3, Pick 77 of the draft.
A Cincinnati Native Through and Through
Hubbard spent all seven seasons of his career with the Bengals and has always held Cincinnati close to his heart. Born and raised in the city, his entire life revolved around it—playing high school football at Archbishop Moeller and later representing Ohio State Buckeyes in college.
Truth be told, Hubbard has been a lifelong Bengals fan, and he expressed how much it meant to him to wear just one jersey throughout his career, as he mentioned in his social media post.
Hubbard’s Achievements in the Bengals Jersey
At the time of his retirement, Hubbard was the longest-tenured player on the Bengals’ roster. He was with Cincinnati even before head coach Zac Taylor took charge. Although he faced many challenges over the years, he also had some remarkable accomplishments:
Bengals DE Sam Hubbard announces retirement from the NFL after a 7-year career. pic.twitter.com/LvUAMGbmHw
— NFL (@NFL) March 5, 2025
Winning the AFC Championship
Reaching the Super Bowl
Winning back-to-back AFC North titles
On the field, Hubbard played a total of 104 regular-season games, starting in 88 of them. His career stats include:
398 tackles
55 tackles for loss
38.5 sacks
6 forced fumbles
5 fumble recoveries
1 touchdown & 1 interception
His most iconic career moment came in the 2023 Wild Card Round against the Ravens. He recovered a fumble and ran 98 yards for a touchdown, leading the Bengals to a 24-17 victory. This legendary play is famously known as “Fumble in the Jungle.”
Why Did Hubbard Retire at His Peak?
In a heartfelt social media post, Hubbard explained that while his football-playing days are over, he sees this as the start of something new. He plans to:
Explore new business opportunities
Take his Sam Hubbard Foundation to new heights
Focus on his health and family
— Sam Hubbard (@Sam_Hubbard_) March 5, 2025
While retiring young in the brutal world of the NFL isn’t unheard of, Hubbard could have easily played a few more years. However, since he was entering the final year of his contract, there was a risk of being traded. Perhaps that’s why he chose to retire as a lifelong Bengal instead of taking that chance.