If he really wanted to, Sam Hubbard could be in the midst of a regular offseason right now.
The former Cincinnati Bengals defensive end announced his retirement from professional football back in March. The Bengals were likely to move on from Hubbard regardless of his football future, but another chapter in his playing career was possible.
He just wanted Cincinnati to be the entire book.
Sam Hubbard confirms desire to retire as a Bengal
Hubbard commented on his retirement while representing the Sam Hubbard Foundation partnering up with Fifth Third Bank over the weekend to fight food insecurity, one of the pillar causes of Hubbard's foundation.
When asked about ending his playing career, the 29-year old Cincinnati native revealed playing elsewhere was a possibility, but he had no intention of adding another team to his resume.
"Yeah, retired in March, I had a great career. I had some opportunities to play elsewhere, but I really wanted to you know retire as a Bengal," Hubbard said Saturday. "It meant so much to me playing my whole career here, continuing to live here, and continue to work with my foundation and expand our impact.
"Cincinnatian for life, Bengal for life, and I'm so happy with how everything played out."
Had Hubbard not filed for retirement, the Bengals would've released him and made him a free agent prior to the new league year beginning, just like they did with Alex Cappa. Cappa would up signing with the Las Vegas Raiders not long after his release, and it sounds like Hubbard could've landed on his feet in a quick manner as well.
Wrapping up a seven-year career with his hometown team and staying in the city to continue his incredible off-field work was more important.
It would've been quite the adjustment seeing Hubbard play for another club. He played high school ball in Cincinnati. He opted to stay in the state to play college ball at Ohio State. He was drafted by the Bengals and played out three of the four years on his contract extension.
In terms of pure Cincinnati athletes, Hubbard's story is about as good as it gets. Making this last year the final chapter seals the deal.
The city is made better with Hubbard in it, no matter what he now ends up doing on Sundays. It's a pleasure for him to have realized this as well.
