Rodeo Daily

How Will the Sport of Professional Bull Riding Change Following Mauney's Retirement?

Legendary bull rider J.B. Mauney announces his retirement after recent neck injury, leaving the community of professional rodeo forever changed. .

Alex Cawthon

How Will the Sport of Professional Bull Riding Change Following Mauney's Retirement?
How Will the Sport of Professional Bull Riding Change Following Mauney's Retirement? /

J.B. Mauney, known to his fans and fellow competitors as "The Dragonslayer" (due to his iconic career and fearless attitude), has officially announced his retirement from professional bull riding after a neck injury while competing in Lewiston, Idaho. 

Mauney spent the majority of his career riding in the PBR before he made the transition to the PRCA in 2021. Although Mauney had been a member of the PRCA since 2009 his first NFR appearance was not until December 2021.

The $7.4 million dollar money earner has earned his name as the GOAT. With two PBR World Championships under his belt as well as an NFR qualification, Mauney has left his impression on the world of professional bull riding.

Mauney states in a recent Instagram post, "All I can say is it's been quite a party!" referring to his professional career. He also mentions the surgery on his neck at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, "required a rod/plates/screws and the removal of a disc".

Although the surgery was successful, the injury will not allow Mauney to continue to compete.  

Any one that has been around the rodeo world for any amount of time looked up to the determination and grit Mauney possessed every time he competed. Even competitors that did not ride bulls admired the sense of pride and fearlessness Mauney displayed time and time again as he crawled on the back of a bull.

The 36- year-old now resides in Stephenville, TX with his wife, PRCA barrel racer, Samantha Mauney and son Jagger. 

Mauney's fans and fellow competitors will miss watching him climb aboard the rankest bulls in PBR/PRCA history. It's not often in the sport of professional rodeo a single person comes along and breaks records that have not been broken in decades.

During Mauney's time as a bull rider, he changed the standard of what a rodeo athlete should be made of. 

His mentality was "if your going to be a bear, might as well be a grizzly bear" he stated in a video on social media. His will to hit every challenge head on, combined with his astounding riding ability left no doubt he is a true legend that forever changed the game. 

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Alex Cawthon
ALEX CAWTHON

Alex Cawthon is a writer for Sports Illustrated's Rodeo Daily. She is also an accomplished rodeo athlete and business leader driven by the desire to achieve greatness. Born and raised in Rockwall, TX where she learned the importance of family and enjoying the simple things in life. Growing up Alex focused on her academics as well as fine-tuning her abilities as an athlete, which led her to a rodeo scholarship at Tarleton State University. She competed in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) in the Southwest Region during her time in college rodeo. In addition to a long list of rodeo accomplishments, Alex’s reputation for excellence as well as her grit and determination garnered awards and high-profile brand deals. When not competing full-time as a rodeo athlete, Alex applies her intense work ethic to thrive in the classroom. She graduated from Tarleton State University with a bachelor's degree in Agribusiness in 2022 and will graduate in December 2023 with a Master's in Business Administration. Now based in Stephenville, Tx, Alex continues to make her mark as she establishes a career in the oil and gas industry. In addition, Alex utilizes her expertise and connections to support the sport she loves, as she joins forces with Sports Illustrated as a writer for their acclaimed feature, Rodeo Daily. Beyond Alex’s accomplishments in and out of the arena, to her core, she is tenacious, focused, and driven. Her deep roots in the Western industry have not only shaped her professional journey, but also instilled an unwavering commitment to tradition, excellence, and innovation. 

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