‘The Cincinnati Kid’ through and through: Sam Hubbard has made an impact on, off field in hometown
Updated: 2:00 PM EST Mar 5, 2025
Cincinnati native Sam Hubbard announced his retirement from professional football Wednesday afternoon, after seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.Hubbard spent his whole life in Ohio, from growing up in Cincinnati, to eventually starting at Archbishop Moeller High School to playing three years at Ohio State before being drafted by his hometown team in 2018.Hubbard’s career is unlike many others, where he’s been able to have such an impact in his hometown. As he steps away from the game at the professional level, we look back on the on and off field accomplishments he held while representing the city he calls home. Moeller High SchoolA two-sport athlete at Archbishop Moeller (football and lacrosse), Hubbard played safety as a high schooler and logged 109 tackles and five interceptions his senior year.In 2013, he garnered All-State safety honors from the Associated Press and was the No. 1 ranked player in the state of Ohio by Scout.com.Hubbard was part of back-to-back state titles with Moeller as a junior and senior. Initially committing to Notre Dame for lacrosse, Hubbard ultimately decided to take his talents up Interstate 71 and play college football for Ohio State.Ohio State UniversityAfter redshirting in 2013 to give him time to grow after a move to linebacker, Hubbard started the 2014 season for the Buckeyes in their season-opener against Virginia Tech. Over his three years in Columbus, Hubbard totaled 116 tackles (64 solo) and 17.0 sacks.As a junior, he posted his best year, totaling collegiate highs in solo tackles (27), tackles for a loss (14) and sacks (7.0).Hubbard totaled 40 games in Scarlett and Gray and twice finished in the 10 top in the Big Ten in sacks, totaling 30 for his Buckeye career.Prior to the 2018 draft, Hubbard participated in the NFL Draft Combine, ultimately earning a prospect grade of 6.30 from NFL.com, which predicted he “will eventually be a plus starter.”Cincinnati Bengals Drafted in the third round of the 2018 draft, Hubbard played in 16 games for the Bengals his rookie season, totaling 39 tackles and 6.0 sacks.His career year came in the 2019 campaign. Over 15 games, Hubbard totaled 76 tackles (46 solo), 10 of which came for a loss, and 8.5 sacks.In 104 regular season games, Hubbard totaled 398 tackles, 236 of them being credited as solo tackles, with 55 tackles for a loss, 98 QB hits and 38.5 sacks.Over his time with the Bengals, Hubbard became a reliable member of Cincinnati’s offensive line. His most iconic moment came in January 2023 in the wild card round of the playoffs, when he recovered a Tyler Huntley fumble near the goal line and ran 98 yard the other way for a touchdown, breaking a 17-17 tie.It was the longest fumble return for a touchdown in NFL history and sealed the Bengals victory.Hubbard’s 2024 season, which now goes down as his final one, was marred by injuries. He told WLWT’s Charlie Clifford in November that he sustained a hamstring tear in training camp that could have ended his season, but he played through it.In December, he sustained a PCL injury after catching a touchdown pass from Joe Burrow. It’s a play that now goes down as the last play of his career.”In my heart, I know that I gave this game, this team, and this city everything that I had,” Hubbard said in his retirement statement on Wednesday. “To play my entire career in one uniform is incredibly special to me, and I am a Bengal for life, always have been and always will be.”The Sam Hubbard FoundationWhile he’s made an impact for every team he’s been part of on the field, he’s also made an impact off of it through his foundation.Started in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Sam Hubbard Foundation aims to bring equitable access to food, education and a healthy lifestyle for all Cincinnatians.His work with the foundation earned him the honor of being the Bengals’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominee in 2021 and 2022.”I consider this nomination to be the highest honor in our league because of the incredible people that have come before me, and because of the resources and awareness it will bring to my foundation and our mission,” said Hubbard after being named the team’s 2022 nominee.The foundation’s signature program, Hubbard’s Cupboard, provides physical locations inside schools that addresses immediate student needs, from providing new backpacks for the start of the school year to offering healthy snacks to get students through the day.Educators interested in bringing a Hubbard’s Cupboard to their school can do so by visiting the foundation’s website.
CINCINNATI —Cincinnati native Sam Hubbard announced his retirement from professional football Wednesday afternoon, after seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hubbard spent his whole life in Ohio, from growing up in Cincinnati, to eventually starting at Archbishop Moeller High School to playing three years at Ohio State before being drafted by his hometown team in 2018.
Hubbard’s career is unlike many others, where he’s been able to have such an impact in his hometown. As he steps away from the game at the professional level, we look back on the on and off field accomplishments he held while representing the city he calls home.
Moeller High School
A two-sport athlete at Archbishop Moeller (football and lacrosse), Hubbard played safety as a high schooler and logged 109 tackles and five interceptions his senior year.
In 2013, he garnered All-State safety honors from the Associated Press and was the No. 1 ranked player in the state of Ohio by Scout.com.
Hubbard was part of back-to-back state titles with Moeller as a junior and senior.
Initially committing to Notre Dame for lacrosse, Hubbard ultimately decided to take his talents up Interstate 71 and play college football for Ohio State.
Ohio State University
After redshirting in 2013 to give him time to grow after a move to linebacker, Hubbard started the 2014 season for the Buckeyes in their season-opener against Virginia Tech.
Over his three years in Columbus, Hubbard totaled 116 tackles (64 solo) and 17.0 sacks.
As a junior, he posted his best year, totaling collegiate highs in solo tackles (27), tackles for a loss (14) and sacks (7.0).
Hubbard totaled 40 games in Scarlett and Gray and twice finished in the 10 top in the Big Ten in sacks, totaling 30 for his Buckeye career.
Prior to the 2018 draft, Hubbard participated in the NFL Draft Combine, ultimately earning a prospect grade of 6.30 from NFL.com, which predicted he “will eventually be a plus starter.”
Cincinnati Bengals
Drafted in the third round of the 2018 draft, Hubbard played in 16 games for the Bengals his rookie season, totaling 39 tackles and 6.0 sacks.
His career year came in the 2019 campaign. Over 15 games, Hubbard totaled 76 tackles (46 solo), 10 of which came for a loss, and 8.5 sacks.
In 104 regular season games, Hubbard totaled 398 tackles, 236 of them being credited as solo tackles, with 55 tackles for a loss, 98 QB hits and 38.5 sacks.
Over his time with the Bengals, Hubbard became a reliable member of Cincinnati’s offensive line. His most iconic moment came in January 2023 in the wild card round of the playoffs, when he recovered a Tyler Huntley fumble near the goal line and ran 98 yard the other way for a touchdown, breaking a 17-17 tie.
It was the longest fumble return for a touchdown in NFL history and sealed the Bengals victory.
Hubbard’s 2024 season, which now goes down as his final one, was marred by injuries. He told WLWT’s Charlie Clifford in November that he sustained a hamstring tear in training camp that could have ended his season, but he played through it.
In December, he sustained a PCL injury after catching a touchdown pass from Joe Burrow. It’s a play that now goes down as the last play of his career.
“In my heart, I know that I gave this game, this team, and this city everything that I had,” Hubbard said in his retirement statement on Wednesday. “To play my entire career in one uniform is incredibly special to me, and I am a Bengal for life, always have been and always will be.”
The Sam Hubbard Foundation
While he’s made an impact for every team he’s been part of on the field, he’s also made an impact off of it through his foundation.
Started in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Sam Hubbard Foundation aims to bring equitable access to food, education and a healthy lifestyle for all Cincinnatians.
His work with the foundation earned him the honor of being the Bengals’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominee in 2021 and 2022.
“I consider this nomination to be the highest honor in our league because of the incredible people that have come before me, and because of the resources and awareness it will bring to my foundation and our mission,” said Hubbard after being named the team’s 2022 nominee.
The foundation’s signature program, Hubbard’s Cupboard, provides physical locations inside schools that addresses immediate student needs, from providing new backpacks for the start of the school year to offering healthy snacks to get students through the day.
Educators interested in bringing a Hubbard’s Cupboard to their school can do so by visiting the foundation’s website.
