{"id":2410300,"date":"2025-03-05T20:57:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T01:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nfl-captain-unexpectedly-retires-at-age-29\/"},"modified":"2025-03-05T21:01:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T02:01:38","slug":"nfl-captain-unexpectedly-retires-at-age-29","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nfl-captain-unexpectedly-retires-at-age-29\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Captain Unexpectedly Retires at Age 29"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnfl-captain-unexpectedly-retires-at-age-29%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2410300&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sam Hubbard, a \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/retired-nfl-player-calls-for-separate-transgender-category-of-sports-after-biden-executive-order\/\" title=\"Retired NFL Player Calls For Separate Transg...er Category Of Sports After Biden Executive Order\">defensive end<\/a> for the Cincinnati Bengals, has announced his retirement from professional football after \u200dseven seasons with the team. The 29-year-old player recently experienced \u200ca career-ending knee injury, which\u200c followed another injury from the previous season. Over the course of his career, Hubbard highlighted his deep \u2062connection to Cincinnati, expressing gratitude for the support he received \u2063and the memories he created during his time with the Bengals, including breaking the team&#8217;s playoff drought and participating in\u200b a Super Bowl. In his farewell, Hubbard emphasized the importance of the community, stating his\u200d commitment\u2064 to remaining\u200b involved \u2064and \u2062expressing pride in his achievements, notably being nominated for the Walter \u200bPayton Man of\u200d the Year Award. Bengals president mike Brown and head coach Zac Taylor praised hubbard for his leadership, talent, and contributions to the team both on and off the field.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard announced Wednesday he is retiring from football after seven seasons with the team.<\/p>\n<p>In December, Hubbard, 29, had the bittersweet experience of catching a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-wild-week-18-in-the-nfl-sets-up-super-wild-card-weekend\/\" title=\"A Wild Week 18 In The NFL Sets Up Super Wild Card Week...\">2-yard touchdown pass<\/a> as the Bengals defeated the Tennessee Titans 37-27, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/story\/_\/id\/44121503\/long-bengals-de-sam-hubbard-retiring-seven-seasons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But on that play, he suffered what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/bengals\/stat-of-the-jay-how-sam-hubbard-made-nfl-history-on-a-wednesday-morning-in-march-01jnkt0jt2h0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sports Illustrated<\/a> called &ldquo;a season-ending &mdash; and, as it turned out, career-ending &mdash; knee injury.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>ESPN noted that Hubbard played with a hamstring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nfl-star-abruptly-retires-30-issues-ominous-warning-not-take-injections-give\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">injury<\/a> all season.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cincinnati.com\/story\/sports\/nfl\/bengals\/2025\/03\/05\/sam-hubbard-retirement-nfl-cincinnati-bengals\/81594515007\/#:~:text=While%20battling%20through%20his%20hamstring,a%20toll%20on%20his%20body.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cincinnati Enquirer<\/a> noted that his 2024 injuries came after an ankle injury in 2023 that required offseason surgery, adding that in Hubbard&rsquo;s final season, &ldquo;His playing time decreased as the year went on, and it was clear the injuries in consecutive years took a toll on his body.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/pure-class-bengals-star-drops-knee-prayer-opposing-qb-writhes-pain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hubbard<\/a> poured out his emotions to fans in a post on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DG0tRvmJmQR\/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In my heart, I know that I gave this game, this team, and this city everything that I had. That is why today, with great pride, I am announcing that I am moving on from my playing career in the NFL and entering the next chapter of my life,&rdquo; he wrote.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As a kid growing up in Southwest Ohio, Cincinnati has always been, and will always be, home to my family and me.&nbsp; I bled orange and black before I ever put on a Bengals jersey. The journey that took me from a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">high school lacrosse player<\/a> up 71-North to become a defensive end at The Ohio State University and back home again as a Bengals third-round pick in 2018, is something for which I am grateful for every day,&rdquo; he wrote.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;From a draft pick to a starter, a 4x captain, and a guy who made a few plays along the way, we accomplished things that will never be forgotten. Breaking the 31-year playoff win drought, winning an AFC championship, back-to-back AFC North championships, a trip to the Super Bowl, and countless other memories,&rdquo; he wrote.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">To: The Cincinnati Kid &#129505;<\/p>\n<p>Thank you, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Sam_Hubbard_?\">@Sam_Hubbard_<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vBfPvUeVR3\">pic.twitter.com\/vBfPvUeVR3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Bengals\/status\/1897316069028549116?\">March 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Hubbard said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-sam-wyche-boundary-pushing-coach-bengals-dead-74\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cincinnati<\/a> will always be a part of him.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This city gave me a purpose beyond football. Through the Sam Hubbard Foundation, I&rsquo;ve tried to lift up Cincinnati the way you&rsquo;ve lifted me. Your support and the impact we have had together have shown me that community and love outweigh any trophy.&nbsp; Being nominated twice for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is my proudest accomplishment. I won&rsquo;t be going anywhere, and we are still just getting started,&rdquo; he wrote, adding, &ldquo;Although it is the end of my playing career, I view this as a new beginning.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;To the fans&mdash;Who Dey Nation&mdash; I thank you the most; you inspired me. From the years of struggle and adversity to Super Bowl LVI, you never stopped believing. I hope I made you proud. To play my entire career in one uniform is incredibly special to me, and I am a Bengal for life, always have been and always will be,&rdquo; he wrote.<\/p>\n<p>In a post on the team&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bengals.com\/news\/sam-hubbard-announces-retirement-from-pro-football\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a>, Bengals president Mike Brown said Hubbard, who was the team&rsquo;s captain in his final seasons with the team, &ldquo;epitomizes what you want in a player &mdash; he&rsquo;s a great teammate, a talented athlete and a passionate community member.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He helped us win a lot of football games, and he had a number of very memorable plays over the years. His 98-yard fumble recovery return in the Wild Card win over Baltimore is one of the most iconic touchdowns in team history. It has been my honor to watch him play his entire NFL career for his hometown team. We thank him for the memories he created as &lsquo;Cincinnati&rsquo;s Own.&#8217;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said, &ldquo;Sam is the definition of what it means to be a professional, and I will always be grateful for the role he played as a leader for our team.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Sam brought a championship mindset to work every single day with his dedication, commitment and passion for the game. He has proven to be a winner at every level of his career and helped get the most out of his teammates. Sam embraced his Cincinnati roots and created a lasting legacy on and off the field,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard announced his retirement from football on Wednesday after seven seasons with the team. In December, at age 29, he experienced a mix of emotions when he caught a 2-yard touchdown pass in the Bengals&#8217; 37-27 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Unfortunately, that play resulted in what Sports Illustrated described as a &#8220;season-ending\u2014and ultimately career-ending\u2014knee injury.&#8221; ESPN reported that Hubbard played through a hamstring injury throughout the season. The Cincinnati Enquirer highlighted that his injuries in 2024 followed an ankle surgery in 2023 and noted that his playing time diminished as the season progressed due to consecutive injuries impacting his performance.<\/p>\n<p>In an emotional Instagram post, Hubbard expressed gratitude for his journey and announced he was moving on from his NFL career. He reflected on growing up in Southwest Ohio and how Cincinnati has always felt like home to him. He shared pride in being part of significant achievements with the Bengals, including breaking a long playoff win drought and reaching the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n<p>Hubbard emphasized that Cincinnati would always hold a special place in his heart and mentioned how he aimed to give back through his foundation. He thanked fans for their unwavering support throughout both struggles and successes during his career.<\/p>\n<p>Bengals president Mike Brown praised Hubbard as an exemplary player who made memorable contributions to the team, while head coach Zac Taylor commended him for embodying professionalism and leadership both on and off the field<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2410301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Bengals-Defensive-End-retiring.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7215,51612,7620,34619,51613],"class_list":["post-2410300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-nfl","tag-player-news","tag-retirement","tag-sports-news","tag-unexpected-events"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Bengals-Defensive-End-retiring.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2410300"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2410304,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410300\/revisions\/2410304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2410301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2410300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2410300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2410300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}