CINCINNATI — Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard is retiring.
The 29-year-old spent seven seasons in Cincinnati. He helped the Bengals win the AFC Championship in 2021 and the “Hubbard Yard Dash” is arguably the biggest play in Bengals’ postseason history.
“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. “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.”
The Bengals took Hubbard in the third-round (77th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft.
He went on to become a team captain, appearing in 104 regular season games, compiling 398 tackles and 38.5 sacks in the process.
Hubbard played 4,940 defensive snaps over that span—and that doesn’t include the seven playoff games he appeared in for Cincinnati. Injuries got the best of Hubbard over the past two seasons. After a career year in 2022, he suffered a serious ankle injury in 2023 that required surgery. Last year he dealt with a hamstring injury in training camp and ultmately suffered a season-ending knee injury in December against the Titans.
The Bengals clear $9.5 million in cap space by releasing Hubbard. He announced his retirement in conjunction with their roster move.
His final play for the Bengals was a touchdown catch against the Titans. He suffered the knee injury when he landed on the ground. Watch the play below:
— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024
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