Sam Hubbard: “The Cincinnati Kid”

A belated “thank you” to the guy who embodies all good things Ohio.

“Oh! That ball’s out—that’s live!”

NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico’s iconic call of one of the biggest plays in Bengals will forever remain in Bengals fans’ minds. At the center of it was one of the one of the cornerstones of modern Cincinnati football.

Few people get to live their lifelong dream of playing professional sports. Even fewer get to experience a long and productive pro career, becoming a fan favorite along the way. Almost none get to achieve all of these feats in the city where they grew up and thrived at all levels.

Believe it or not, these are just small parts of the story of Sam Hubbard.

As a kid, Hubbard grew up rooting for his hometown Cincinnati Bengals, cheering them on at the then-named Paul Brown Stadium. As he entered his teens, Hubbard became an outstanding dual-sport athlete in both football and lacrosse.

He excelled in both at Moeller High School, gaining national attention for his talents. When the time came to choose a sport and a prestigious university, Hubbard had many options to consider.

But when THE Ohio State University came calling with a scholarship offer for football, he knew that’s where he was destined to be. Hubbard joined the Buckeyes in the 2014 recruiting class and became part of a star-studded roster.

Although he redshirted his freshman year, Hubbard was introduced to the college ranks with a national championship. From there, Hubbard became one of the most valuable players on an Ohio State team that was routinely in the hunt for more national championships.

He parlayed his performances into becoming a third-round pick, No. 77 overall, to his beloved Cincinnati Bengals in 2018. He was part of a class that also featured Jessie Bates and was one of the last selections in Marvin Lewis’ tenure with the team.

Immediately, Lewis noted that Hubbard was “ahead of the curve” as a rookie, and he proved that with a strong initial campaign, recording six sacks and 39 tackles. When Zac Taylor took over as head coach for Lewis, only a few players from the previous regime remained.

Taylor strategically held on to young, promising players like Tyler Boyd and Hubbard, relying not only on their on-field production but also their leadership abilities in the locker room. This focus on strong veterans was a cornerstone of Taylor’s plan to rebuild the Bengals, and Hubbard was at the heart of that strategy.

Proving that those rookie numbers weren’t a fluke, Hubbard turned a corner in his second season, racking up 79 tackles and 8 sacks in 2019. These achievements laid the foundation for a career marked by stability and consistency.

While the first three years of his career were challenging, with the Bengals winning just 12 games from 2018-2020, Hubbard remained steadfast in his role as a team leader. Even though he was still relatively young, both in terms of his career and age, he became a cornerstone of the team’s future success.

We were fortunate enough to speak with Sam on several occasions, and as he reached the peak of his career. Every time he did, his answers were always about the team and how he can play his part in making the Bengals a contender.

In the 2020 and 2021 offseasons, the Bengals made great strides in giving Hubbard more help on defense—particularly on the defensive line. D.J. Reader, B.J. Hill, Larry Ogunjobi, and Trey Hendrickson were all signed to bolster the unit, and Hubbard thrived with their arrivals.

Hubbard’s consistency remained during one of the best stretches in team history, even though he was often overshadowed by a number of other stars and high draft picks who dominated the highlight reels.

Quietly, Hubbard was a reliable performer and had some of the biggest performances in the most high-profile of games. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Evan McPherson, Hendrickson, and Bates received recognition for huge plays in clutch moments, but Hubbard also came up with enormous plays to help the Bengals reach—and ultimately succeed in—two AFC Championship Games.

We know that the rivalry between the Bengals and the Chiefs reached new heights in the Burrow era, and rightfully so, given the epic battles between the two squads over the past four seasons. While all of the other aforementioned players played crucial roles in deep playoff runs, Hubbard made his own mark in Cincinnati history.

Few may remember that he made critical plays against the Chiefs in so many clashes over such a short period of time. While many remember the heroics of others in the 2021 AFC Championship Game, Hubbard had a huge sack towards the end of regulation that forced an overtime opportunity instead of a Chiefs win.

Like much of Hubbard’s career, that play was overshadowed by a forthcoming overtime interception by Vonn Bell, big runs by Joe Mixon, and the eventual game-winning kick by Evan McPherson. Even so, Hubbard played a big role in getting the Bengals to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1988 season.

It wasn’t just that singular play, though. Hubbard was a great complement to Hendrickson all year, putting up 7.5 sacks, 62 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss. He was an integral part of a defensive unit that came up clutch time and time again in the 2021-2022 seasons.

Not to be outdone, the Bengals had their backs against the wall the following year against Kansas City in the 2022 AFC Championship Game rematch. Needing a big play, Hubbard stepped up again.

Still, this paled in comparison to what happened a couple of weeks prior. It seemed as if the Bengals were going to be a one-and-done team, a year after falling just short of beating the Rams in Super Bowl 56.

Facing a third-and-goal from their own one-yard line, Tyler Huntley and the Ravens had the Bengals on the ropes in a 17-17 game in the final quarter. Huntley was called for the quarterback keeper, and it looked like a play destined to be a gut punch to the Bengals.

Instead, a miracle happened, and one of the most iconic plays in Bengals history took place. And, thus, “The Fumble in the Jungle” was born.

Over the last couple of years, Hubbard battled through nagging injuries, but true to his warrior nature, he played through them, missing only 7 games over the past three years despite some pretty gruesome ailments.

While the previous two seasons didn’t result in playoff berths for the Bengals, Hubbard made his mark in 2024. He notched his first career interception, safety, and, yes, touchdown reception.

As fate would have it, that would be the last play Hubbard would ever make as a Bengal and in the NFL. He tore a knee ligament on the play, showcasing the heart and effort Hubbard always put forth on the field, albeit with an unfortunate outcome.

On March 5th, 2025, Hubbard took to social media to announce his retirement from pro football. True to his form, it wasn’t with a major press conference or much fanfare (and it was also overshadowed by other headlines about Bengals stars), but it was a bittersweet goodbye to the city to which he gave it all.

Few people get to play seven seasons in the NFL. Fewer play for only one team, much less their hometown team, and leave the stamp Hubbard did on the Bengals. He didn’t get all the accolades he deserved, but his impact on the organization is a lasting one.

What awaits next remains to be seen, but the Bengals’ Ring of Honor should be in the future for him.

Congrats on a great career, 94. Thanks for everything.

Be sure to watch our full special on YouTube here!