As the Bengals prepare a plan for Trey Hendrickson, they have been informed their other defensive end starter will be out of the mix for 2025. Sam Hubbard announced his intention to retire.
A career-long Bengal who grew up in Cincinnati, Hubbard is just 29. He has been a regular starter since his second season, having previously signed an extension to stay with the team. Hubbard walks away after seven seasons, having notched 38.5 career sacks.
Attached to a four-year, $40MM extension, Hubbard was entering a contract year. The Bengals are not big on void years or other methods to create cap space, so this retirement will not come with strings attached beyond signing bonus proration. Cincinnati will save $9.51MM due to Hubbard’s decision.
Hubbard sustained a PCL injury in December and missed the final three games of the Bengals’ season. The popular Bengal cog did notch a safety last season but only finished with two sacks and three tackles for loss (though, he did catch a Joe Burrow touchdown pass against the Titans in what turned out to be his final game). For his career, Hubbard made important contributions to his hometown team’s cause. He closes his career with 55 TFLs — including three seasons with 10-plus — and was responsible for two memorable playoff sequences.
Hubbard’s second sack of Patrick Mahomes in the 2021 AFC championship game resulted in a forced fumble during a Bengals comeback win. A year later, Hubbard reeled off his signature NFL play, returning a fumble 98 yards against the Ravens in a wild-card win. The third-down sequence denied Baltimore a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, instead giving the home team a late lead. This became one of the most celebrated plays in Bengals history, with Hubbard’s connection to the city helping etch it in franchise lore.
The Bengals drafted Hubbard in the 2018 third round, bringing him in during Marvin Lewis‘ final year at the helm. The team had Hubbard in place for four seasons, extending him and trading longtime defensive end Carlos Dunlap. Hendrickson came aboard in 2021, the same year Hubbard landed his second contract. For his career, Hubbard earned more than $35MM.
Cincinnati used a 2023 first-round pick on D-end Myles Murphy but has not seen the Clemson product justify the investment. As the team has Hendrickson going into a contract year — with a potential extension coming, though trade rumors also have surfaced involving the 2024 NFL sack leader — questions loom at this spot. While Hubbard was in place as a Hendrickson sidekick, he gave the Bengals 88 career starts. Murphy did not record a sack last season, playing 13 games. The Bengals also have Joseph Ossai days away from free agency.