CINCINNATI — Maybe the scoreboard at Nissan Stadium on Dec. 15 was a sign.
When “Cincinnati’s Own” Sam Hubbard caught the 2-yard touchdown pass from Joe Burrow in Nashville to tie the game with the Titans at 14-14, there was 5:13 left in the second quarter.
That touchdown would turn out to be the final play in the career of the Cincinnati native who won a state title at Moeller, played on Urban Meyer’s powerhouse Ohio State teams and was drafted by his hometown Bengals in 2018.
The man, who will forever be known for his Hubbard Yard Return or the Fumble in the Jungle in the 2022 AFC Wild Card round to break a 17-17 tie and lead the Bengals to a 24-17 win on Jan. 15, 2023, announced his retirement Wednesday after seven seasons in the NFL, all with the Bengals.
“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,” said the 29-year-old Hubbard via 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.”
THROWBACK: #Bengals Sam Hubbard's legendary 98-yard fumble return touchdown against the #Ravens in the playoffs.
The “Fumble in the Jungle” is the longest fumble return in #NFL playoff history.
Congrats on one hell of a career, @Sam_Hubbard_ 🫡🫡🫡
pic.twitter.com/1ffFgbLWbS— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 5, 2025
Hubbard’s decision saves the Bengals $9.6 million in cap space but leaves the Bengals in a place where they’re going to need at least two edge rushers and possibly three to go with Trey Hendrickson, who they’re trying to extend with a premium contract extension. The Raiders extended Maxx Crosby Wednesday for three years and $35.5 million a season and $91.5 million guaranteed.
After Hendrickson, who is under contract for 2025, the Bengals have only Myles Murphy, Cedric Johnson and Isaiah Thomas as signed edges for the coming season. Joseph Ossai is a free agent, as is Cam Sample (coming off a torn Achilles in training camp 2024).
The Bengals will also miss Hubbard’s leadership in the locker room, as he was one of the most available voices after wins and losses, and offered support to many of his younger cohorts on the defensive line in the last four seasons. For that reason, Hubbard was a defensive team captain for the last four seasons with the Bengals.
Hubbard, a Cincinnati native who graduated from Moeller High School, was selected by the Bengals in the third round of the 2018 draft. He played in 104 regular-season games with a streak of 88 consecutive starts from 2019-24. His career totals included 398 tackles (236 solos), 55 TFLs, 38.5 sacks, 16 passes defended, one interception, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. His 38.5 sacks are the fourth-most among all players in the 2018 rookie class.
While Hubbard did not have the same explosive abilities to get to the quarterback or release from blocks, he still managed 41 tackles, two sacks and an interception in 14 games in 2024.
Sam Hubbard's final play was a TD from Joe Burrow 🐅 pic.twitter.com/TNyyIVt9lh
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) March 5, 2025
Hubbard was a critical part of the Bengals turnaround in 2021, helping Cincinnati win back-to-back AFC North Division titles, make consecutive appearances in the AFC Championship Game and earn a berth in Super Bowl LVI. He played in seven postseason contests (all starts), recording 29 tackles, four sacks, one pass defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, including his legendary scamper against Baltimore.
“Sam always has been and always will be a wonderful part of the Bengals organization and the entire Cincinnati community,” said Bengals president Mike Brown. “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. He helped us win a lot of football games, and he had a number of very memorable plays over the years. His 98-yard fumble recovery return in the Wild Card win over Baltimore is one of the most iconic touchdowns in team history. It has been my honor to watch him play his entire NFL career for his hometown team. We thank him for the memories he created as ‘Cincinnati’s Own.’”
As impactful as Hubbard was on the field and in the locker room, Hubbard showed an unwavering commitment to serving the Greater Cincinnati community during his pro career. In 2021, he created the Sam Hubbard Foundation with the goal of bringing equitable access to food, education and a healthy lifestyle for all Cincinnatians.
He launched several community-based events and initiatives, highlighted by Hubbard’s Cupboards, the annual Fowling Tournament and The Sam Hubbard Youth Football Camp. He was recognized as the Bengals’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2021 and ’22.
“Sam is the definition of what it means to be a professional, and I will always be grateful for the role he played as a leader for our team,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “Sam brought a championship mindset to work every single day with his dedication, commitment and passion for the game. He has proven to be a winner at every level of his career and helped get the most out of his teammates. Sam embraced his Cincinnati roots and created a lasting legacy on and off the field. I am certain he will continue to find success with everything the future brings for him.”
Hubbard’s retirement creates a void in the Bengals organization that will be very difficult but critical to address in the coming weeks as free agency and the draft approach.
Hubbard defined class and dignity for this generation of Bengals and his combination of production and character will be hard to replace.
