 Mauney in 2013 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | James Burton Mauney |
Nickname | J.B. |
| Born | (1987-01-09)January 9, 1987 (age 38) |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight | 140 lb (64 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Rodeo |
Event | Bull riding |
| Turned pro | 2005 |
| Retired | 2023 |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Highest world ranking | 2015 PBR World Champion 2013 PBR World Champion 2013 PBR World Finals Event Champion 2009 PBR World Finals Event Champion 2009 PBR Challenger Tour Champion 2006 PBR Rookie of the Year 2006 PBR Challenger Tour Champion |
James BurtonMauney (/ˈmuːni/; born January 9, 1987[1]) is an American former professionalrodeocowboy who specialized inbull riding. He was a top contestant in theProfessional Bull Riders circuit (PBR) for several years, winning the PBR world championship in 2013 and 2015. Mauney was known for choosing the most difficult bulls, explaining "If you want to be the best, you've got to ride the best."[2] During the latter years of his career, he was nicknamed "the Dragonslayer" for his ability to conquer several of the toughest bulls he was matched against. He is considered one of the greatest bull riders of his generation,[3] and the ninth greatest bull rider in the history of the PBR.[4]
At the very beginning of his career, Mauney rode in both the PBR andChampionship Bull Riding (CBR) circuits, before deciding to ride full-time in the PBR by early 2006. He won the PBR Rookie of the Year title that same year. During the last few years of his career, he competed full-time in theProfessional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuit. Since 2024, he has been the head coach of the Oklahoma Wildcatters in the PBR Team Series.
James Burton Mauney was born on January 9, 1987, inCharlotte, North Carolina. He is ofFrench descent on his father's side.[2] At the age of 13, he rode his first "big" bull.[5] He is 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) and 140 pounds (64 kg).
Mauney won the Southern Rodeo Association (SRA) juniorall-around title in 2002 and the adult all-around title in 2004.[2]
He joined the PBR in 2005[2] and the PRCA in 2009.[6] In his first year of competition, he won the 2006 PBR Rookie of the Year.[7]
Mauney is one of only five riders to get a qualified ride on Asteroid which he accomplished on the BFTS inSan Antonio, Texas, in August 2012, for a score of 93.50 points.[8] Asteroid, the 2012 World Champion bull, earned a high score of 46.25 points.[8]
Mauney competed the first several years of his professional career with a helmet. However, by 2013, he was riding with a cowboy hat.[9]
In August 2013, he became one of only three riders (during the bull's entire career) to stay onBushwacker for the full eight seconds. He achieved this on theBuilt Ford Tough Series (BFTS), the elite series of the PBR, for a score of 95.25 points (inTulsa, Oklahoma).[10][11][12]
Mauney won the PBR world championship title twice, in 2013 and 2015.[13] He also won the PBR World Finals event twice, in 2009 and 2013.[14]
Mauney won the bull riding title during first edition ofRFD-TV's The American in 2014.[15]
On November 5, 2016, Mauney made PBR history by being the first bull rider to reach the $7 million mark in career earnings.[16]
In 2017, Mauney suffered a significant injury to his right arm, requiring surgery to install a screw and 13 anchors.[17] Mauney's career has been plagued with many injuries, but he has continued to pursue professional bull riding history.[18]
"It's part of being a cowboy", he stated in an interview withMonster Energy, "when you crawl in to a chute, nothing else matters. You tie your hand and you don't give up until you hit the dirt". In an interview for the PBR, Mauney said "What gets me is when people who don't ride bulls for a living try to tell me when it's time to hang it up".[19]
In 2019, Mauney tied another two time world championJustin McBride for the most televised wins within the 26-year history of the PBR.[20] By the end of 2020, he had qualified for the PBR World Finals 15 times in his career (2006 through 2020).
Since 2020, Mauney has been part owner of Ultimate Bullfighters (UBF), anAmerican freestyle bullfighting organization.[21]
After struggling to find success during the first few events of the 2021 PBR season, Mauney decided to try his luck in the PRCA. Although he joined the PRCA in 2009, he only competed sporadically at PRCA events from 2009 to 2020. In July 2021, Mauney announced that he would step away from riding in the PBR to focus solely on riding in the PRCA and try to qualify for theNational Finals Rodeo (NFR).[22] He would qualify for and compete at his first NFR in December of that year.
Mauney was well on his way to qualifying for the NFR again in 2023. However, on September 6, during the PRCA Xtreme Bulls Division 2 event at the Lewiston Round-Up inLewiston, Idaho, Mauney was bucked off by the bull named Arctic Assassin and landed on his head. The wreck ended up breaking his neck and he had surgery two days later, which required a rod, plates, and screws, as well as the removal of a disc. Four days later, Mauney announced his retirement from bull riding.[23] "This is not the way I wanted to go, but everything happens for a reason", he said.[24][25]
In early 2024, Arctic Assassin, now also retired, was purchased by Mauney and moved by his owners to spend his remaining days on Mauney's ranch inStephenville, Texas.[2]
In 2024, Mauney returned to the PBR to be the head coach of the Oklahoma Wildcatters; one of two new teams for the PBR Team Series that season.[26] That same year, the PBR Team Series introduced the Ride-In Round. The event, which took place at theSouth Point Arena inLas Vegas, Nevada, had the bottom four teams from the regular season compete against each other to determine the final two teams who competed at the Team Series Championship at Las Vegas'T-Mobile Arena.[27] The Nashville Stampede, along with the New York Mavericks moved on to the Championship event, defeating the Arizona Ridge Riders and Oklahoma Wildcatters.[28] In 2025, the PBR discontinued the Ride-In Round, meaning all 10 teams will compete at the Team Series Championship.[29]
In March 2025, the Oklahoma Wildcatters defeated the Arizona Ridge Riders to win the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge presented by Camping World at theUnleash the Beast Series (UTB) event inThousand Palms, California.[30]
The Oklahoma Wildcatters were eliminated after the first day of the 2025 Team Series Championship event in October.[31]
The PBR and the fans consider Mauney a legend due to his records and accomplishments. In January 2018, he became the third bull rider to reach 500 rides on the PBR Premier Series when he rode All The Way Up for 87.25 points during Round 1 of the Monster Energy Buck Off atMadison Square Garden in January 2018.[32] In addition to his two world championships, he has 32 Premier Series wins (tied for first with fellow PBR world championJustin McBride) and has 75 90-point rides to his credit (the third most behind fellow PBR world championsChris Shivers andJosé Vitor Leme). His total career earnings are over $7.6 million (combining both PBR and PRCA earnings). He also successfully rode all of the active PBR World Champion bulls during his PBR career, exceptMossy Oak Mudslinger, Smooth Operator, andWoopaa.[32][33]
Mauney was known for picking the rankest bull when there was a draw, especially in the championship round of most events. He and three-time world champion bull Bushwacker are known for being matched up 13 times.[34] Mauney always picked Bushwacker in the elite rounds. Bushwacker never bucked in any rounds that weren't elite once he entered the BFTS. Mauney said, "If you are going to be the best, you've got to ride the best."[35]
Fellow two-time PBR world champion Justin McBride said "he is in a class of his own, the best bull rider of his generation. As soon as the day he decides to be done he is headed straight to the Ring of Honor...he will forever be in the conversation as the greatest the PBR has ever seen".[32]
Mauney was married to Lexie Wigley from 2012 to 2015.[36] In 2017, he married Samantha Lyne, abarrel racer and daughter of five-time PRCA world champion cowboyPhil Lyne.[17]
On January 23, 2019, Mauney and his wife Samantha welcomed the birth of their first son.[37] Mauney also has a daughter (born 2011) from a previous relationship.[17]
Until as recently as 2019, Mauney and his family lived inMooresville, North Carolina, where Mauney had spent most of his life. They then lived inCotulla, Texas, for a few years.[38][39] In late 2020, Mauney purchased a property inStephenville, Texas, and in early 2022, he and his family relocated there.[40]
In 2023, Mauney was ranked No. 9 on the list of the top 30 bull riders in PBR history.[41]
In 2024, he was inducted into theBull Riding Hall of Fame.[42]
In 2025, he was inducted into thePBR Ring of Honor.[43]
