Bengals DE Sam Hubbard has announced his retirement from the NFL.
He posted the following on social media:
Hubbard, 29, was originally a 3rd round pick of the Bengals in 2018. He quickly went on to be an important rotational player, before eventually landing a starting spot. Though he played opposite some high profile names, like Carlos Dunlap and Trey Hendrickson, Hubbard still was a memorable player. As a Cincinnati local, he became a fan favourite, making big plays in key games against the Kansas City Chiefs, and returning a fumble 98 yards for a TD in a wildcard win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Hubbard finishes his career with 38.5 sacks, 398 tackles, 55 for a loss, 16 pass breakups, 1 interception, 6 forced fumbles, and 5 fumble recoveries.
The last couple of seasons have been tough. He battled some injuries that severely impacted his level of play on the field. Perhaps this played a role in his retirement. But still, Hubbard managed to go out on top—his final snap as a Bengal was a TD catch at the goal line against the Tennessee Titans.
For the Bengals, his retirement frees up $9.6M in cap space, while leaving behind $2M in dead money.
Best of luck to Sam Hubbard in his future endeavours!
