March 6, 2025
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Former Ohio State Star Announces Retirement From NFL At 29 | Yardbarker

Bengals defensive end, former Ohio State star, retiring at 29

The Cincinnati kid is retiring in Cincinnati.

Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard, a key part of Cincinnati’s Super Bowl run in 2022, retired after seven seasons in the NFL on Wednesday, the team announced.

The former Ohio State star is just 29 years old, but said the time was right to hang up the cleats.

“I gave it everything I had. I feel like I left everything on the field. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Every day I woke up and gave it to the team and the city,” he told the team website. “I didn’t want to play for another team. I’m a Bengal for life, and it means the world to me.”

Former Ohio State Buckeyes Star Announces Shocking NFL Retirement

Hubbard was an All-Big Ten performer in Columbus before being drafted by the Bengals in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft. Before that, he starred at Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller High School where he won two state titles.

His star only grew with the Bengals where he became the franchise’s first defensive player to catch a touchdown pass. More importantly, he made one of the biggest plays in Bengals’ playoff history during a 24-17 Wild Card victory over the Ravens in 2022.
With the Ravens set to take the lead in a 17-17 game early in the fourth quarter on quarterback Tyler Huntley’s sneak, linebacker Logan Wilson knocked the ball loose and Hubbard grabbed it.
He reversed field and began running in the other direction in what turned into an NFL postseason record 98-yard fumble return.
Only Sam Hubbard's High School Coach Saw the Ohio State Defensive End's  Rise Coming | Eleven Warriors
NBC’s Mike Tirico yelled the “The Cincinnati Kid” during his call of the iconic play.

Hubbard is also remembered for sacking Patrick Mahomes on the last two scrimmage snaps of regulation in the 2021 AFC Championship Game in Kansas City to force an overtime the Bengals won.

Hubbard retires with 398 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 111 games. Off the field, he was the Bengals’ two-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.He plans to stay in Cincinnati and raise his family with his fiancé Jessica Koehler, who he’ll marry in Phoenix next month, according to the team.
“It’s almost too good to be true,” Hubbard said. “Can’t write that story any better.”

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