Sam Hubbard’s Bengals Tenure by the Numbers

Sam Hubbard turns 31 today, but his NFL career remains one of the most memorable stories for Cincinnati Bengals fans. The former Bengals defensive end retired in March 2025 after spending seven seasons with his hometown team, bringing to a close one of the more unique careers in franchise history.

A Cincinnati native, Archbishop Moeller graduate, Ohio State standout and third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Hubbard became one of the faces of the Bengals’ resurgence under Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow.  

Hubbard was a consistent force on the field throughout his tenure and brought intensity to Cincinnati’s defense. He appeared in 104 regular-season games, including 88 starts, and finished with 398 total tackles, 38.5 sacks, 55 tackles for loss, 16 passes defended, one interception, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. His 38.5 sacks rank fourth among all players selected in the 2018 NFL Draft class, while he also added two defensive touchdowns and one receiving touchdown during his career.

His finest individual season came in 2019, when he recorded a career-high 8.5 sacks despite Cincinnati finishing 2-14. Hubbard developed into one of the league’s most dependable edge defenders over the following seasons and was voted a team captain in each of his final four years with the organization from 2021 through 2024. During that stretch, the Bengals captured back-to-back AFC North titles, reached consecutive AFC Championship Games and advanced to Super Bowl LVI.  

Hubbard also delivered some of the biggest moments in franchise history. His 98-yard fumble return touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2022 AFC Wild Card Game became known as the “Fumble in the Jungle” and remains one of the most memorable plays of Cincinnati’s recent playoff run.

He suffered a PCL injury in his final season and finished the year with 41 tackles and two sacks in 14 starts.

Beyond the field, Hubbard established himself as one of the Bengals’ most respected leaders. He was twice nominated for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for his community work through the Sam Hubbard Foundation, which focuses on improving access to food, education and healthy living in Cincinnati.  

Although injuries shortened what many believed could have been a longer career, Hubbard left the game exactly as he hoped. He retired after seven seasons, all with Cincinnati, becoming the longest-tenured player on the roster at the time of his retirement. His final message summed up his relationship with the franchise and the city he represented throughout his career: “I am a Bengal for life.”