Chuba Hubbard

Chuba Robert-Shamar Hubbard was born on June 11, 1999, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. He later moved to Sherwood Park, Alberta, where he attended Bev Facey Community High School. During his high school career, Hubbard showcased exceptional talent in Canadian football, rushing for an impressive 6,880 yards on 458 attempts and scoring 82 touchdowns over three years. These achievements led him to commit to Oklahoma State University to play college football in the United States.

After redshirting his initial year in 2017, Hubbard quickly made his mark at Oklahoma State. In 2018, he played in 13 games, accumulating 740 rushing yards on 124 carries and scoring seven touchdowns. His junior year in 2019 was particularly notable; Hubbard rushed for 2,094 yards on 328 carries and recorded 21 touchdowns, earning him unanimous All-American honors, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award, and the Jon Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian player in NCAA football. Despite speculation about entering the 2020 NFL draft, he chose to return for his redshirt junior year.

Hubbard’s professional career began when he was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round (126th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year, $4.2 million contract with the Panthers on May 6, 2021. In his rookie season (2021), he played in all 17 games with 10 starts, rushing for 612 yards and five touchdowns, along with 25 receptions for 174 yards and one receiving touchdown. The 2023 season saw him assume a starting role, culminating in his first NFL season with over 1,000 scrimmage yards. On November 7, 2024, Hubbard signed a four-year, $33.2 million extension with the Panthers, solidifying his position as a key player.