Off the Field but Not Out of the Game
Cincinnati Bengals fans are no strangers to the highs and lows of the NFL, but Sam Hubbard’s unexpected retirement at the age of 29 feels like a moment frozen in time. After seven seasons of bruising tackles, iconic playoff plays, and a relentless work ethic that made him a fan favorite, Hubbard is walking away from the gridiron. Not because he has to—he could have kept chasing quarterbacks for years—but because he has something even bigger in mind.
While the Bengals will certainly feel the absence of their hometown hero, Cincinnati won’t be losing him anytime soon. Instead of chasing down AFC North quarterbacks, Hubbard is turning his focus to tackling something much more important: food insecurity, education access, and health equity in his community. The Sam Hubbard Foundation, which he established in 2020, is about to become his new full-time mission, and for those who have followed his career, this shift is anything but surprising.
A Cincinnati Kid Through and Through
Before he was an NFL star, Hubbard was a Cincinnati kid, born and raised in the Queen City. He attended Archbishop Moeller High School, a powerhouse football program that has produced its fair share of elite athletes. He wasn’t always destined to play in the trenches—he started as a lacrosse phenom before being recruited by Ohio State as a defensive end. His time with the Buckeyes proved he was a force to be reckoned with, and when the Bengals selected him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, it was a homecoming story fans could rally around.
From the very beginning, Hubbard wasn’t just playing for a paycheck—he was playing for his city. And he played his heart out. Over seven seasons, he recorded 35.5 sacks, 317 tackles, and a defining postseason moment that Bengals fans will never forget. In the 2022 AFC Wild Card game against the Ravens, Hubbard turned the tide with a 98-yard fumble return for a touchdown—an electrifying play that sealed the victory and sent Paycor Stadium into a frenzy. It was the longest fumble return in playoff history, a moment that etched his name into Bengals lore forever.
But even as he built his legacy on the field, Hubbard was already planning something much bigger off of it.
The Sam Hubbard Foundation: A Legacy of Impact
For many professional athletes, charity work is a bullet point in a résumé—a necessary part of the job. For Hubbard, it has been something deeper, something personal. In 2020, he launched the Sam Hubbard Foundation, with a mission to provide equitable access to food, education, and healthy lifestyles for Cincinnati residents.
What started as an effort to give back quickly turned into a powerhouse for community change. His foundation has raised over $750,000, launched 13 “Hubbard’s Cupboards” in local schools, and helped provide more than 300,000 meals to those in need. His dedication to his hometown wasn’t just about making a difference—it was about building something sustainable, something that would outlast his playing days.
And now, those playing days are over. But his impact? It’s only beginning.
Expanding the Mission: What’s Next for Hubbard?
With football in the rearview mirror, Hubbard has made it clear that his next chapter will be spent expanding his foundation’s reach. His plan includes:
Expanding Partnerships – Collaborating with local businesses, schools, and healthcare providers to strengthen resources for Cincinnati families.
Enhancing Program Offerings – Creating new initiatives focused on health education, mentorship, and youth development to support the next generation.
Boosting Fundraising Efforts – Hosting more events like the Annual Fowling Tournament, which merges football and bowling for a good cause, and growing the Sam Hubbard Youth Football Camp, an event designed to give kids hands-on coaching from a Bengals legend.
Hubbard has also been a two-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee, further proving that his contributions go well beyond football. His ability to rally people around a cause has already made a tangible difference, and with more time to dedicate, there’s no limit to what he can achieve.
From Sacks to Service: A Farewell Worth Celebrating
NFL careers are fleeting, but what Hubbard is building will last much longer than any highlight reel. While Bengals fans may miss seeing No. 94 take down opposing quarterbacks, they can take pride in knowing he’s still making big plays—just in a different arena.
And if history tells us anything, it’s that Sam Hubbard has never done anything halfway. Whether it was turning a fumble recovery into a game-winning touchdown or leading an entire city to fight food insecurity, his story has always been one of effort, passion, and heart.
His retirement isn’t the end of a great career—it’s the beginning of something even greater.