Joe Mixon Bio
Joseph Tyler Mixon (born July 24, 1996) is an American professional football running back who most recently played for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2016. Mixon entered the league with the Cincinnati Bengals, who selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. Across his career, he has been selected to multiple Pro Bowls and built a reputation as a durable, between-the-tackles runner with strong hands out of the backfield.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and listed at 220 pounds, Mixon combines size with versatility as a rusher and receiver. He has produced more than 7,000 rushing yards in his NFL career and added significant production as a pass catcher, giving offenses a complete backfield option.
Early Life and Background
Joseph Tyler Mixon was born on July 24, 1996, in Oakley, California, a small city in Contra Costa County. He grew up in the same community and attended Freedom High School in Oakley, where he starred in football and basketball for the Falcons. His athletic foundation was built through multi-sport participation, helping him develop the balance, footwork, and body control that became hallmarks of his game.
On the football field, Mixon was a three-year starter at running back for the Freedom Falcons. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,134 yards and 13 touchdowns on 171 carries. He improved as a junior with 1,443 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 201 carries, then capped his high school career with 1,704 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on 226 carries as a senior. He also played basketball, appearing in 16 games with a 12.2 points-per-game average, 79 made field goals, and a 57 percent free throw shooting mark on a team that finished 22-2 overall and 10-0 in league play.
Rivals.com rated Mixon as a five-star recruit and the top-ranked running back in his high school class. He received 47 college offers and ultimately chose the University of Oklahoma over programs including Alabama, California, Wisconsin, and UCLA, committing in January 2014.
Path to American Football
Mixon’s path to elite-level American football began in his hometown of Oakley, where his production as a multi-sport athlete quickly attracted national attention. His senior statistics, combined with his physical profile, made him one of the most sought-after running back prospects in the country.
His commitment to Oklahoma launched his transition from high school standout to Power 5 conference player. While his development included off-field challenges that shaped public perception, his on-field talent was never in question, and he continued to ascend through college competition before declaring for the NFL draft after his junior season.
Joe Mixon Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Mixon enrolled at the University of Oklahoma in 2014 and was suspended from the team for his entire first year following a misdemeanor assault charge in October 2014. He returned as a redshirt freshman in 2015 and quickly made an impact, opening his career with a 76-yard touchdown reception against Akron, the longest catch ever by a Sooners freshman running back.
During the 2015 regular season, Mixon rushed for 749 yards on 110 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt, and scored seven rushing touchdowns while also recording 25 receptions for 345 yards and four receiving scores. He added a 154-yard, two-touchdown performance against Texas Tech and helped Oklahoma reach the College Football Playoff, where the Sooners faced Clemson in the Orange Bowl semifinal.
Oklahoma Breakthrough (2016)
Mixon produced his most dynamic college season in 2016, posting one of the most well-rounded statistical years of any running back in program history. He opened the year with 117 rushing yards against Louisiana-Monroe and strung together consistent production throughout the schedule, highlighted by a career-best 263 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 31 carries against Texas Tech, along with four receptions for 114 yards and three receiving scores.
He added 124 rushing yards against Baylor, 147 against West Virginia, and 99 against Oklahoma State, capping the year with 91 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a Sugar Bowl victory over Auburn. Following the 2016 season, Mixon elected to forgo his remaining eligibility and entered the 2017 NFL draft.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2017–2023)
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Mixon in the second round, 48th overall, of the 2017 NFL Draft, making him the fourth running back chosen that year. He signed a four-year, $5.45 million rookie contract that included $2.81 million in guarantees and a $2.10 million signing bonus. His selection drew scrutiny due to a prior misdemeanor assault charge, but he made his NFL debut on September 10, 2017, against the Baltimore Ravens and recorded his first career rushing touchdown in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. He closed his rookie campaign with 626 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Mixon’s role expanded significantly in 2018, when he led the AFC in rushing with 1,168 yards and added eight rushing touchdowns. He followed that with a 1,137-yard season in 2019 and signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension with the Bengals in September 2020. In 2021, he produced a career-best 1,205 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, the most by a Bengals player since Ickey Woods in 1988. That season also brought his first Pro Bowl selection, making him the first Cincinnati running back to earn the honor since Rudi Johnson in 2004.
During the 2021 postseason, Mixon rushed for 72 yards in Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams and threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins, becoming only the third running back in NFL history to throw a touchdown in the Super Bowl. In 2022, he set a Bengals franchise record with five touchdowns in a single game against the Carolina Panthers and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. He finished his Cincinnati tenure as the franchise’s third all-time leading rusher, behind James Brooks and Corey Dillon.
Houston Texans Era (2024–2025)
The Houston Texans acquired Mixon in a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals on March 13, 2024, in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round draft pick. The following day, he signed a three-year, $27 million contract extension through the 2026 season. He opened his Texans career with 159 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Mixon missed three games with an ankle injury early in 2024 but returned with 132 scrimmage yards, a rushing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown in a win over the New England Patriots. He added multi-touchdown games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Dallas Cowboys, finishing the regular season with 1,016 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. In the Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Chargers, he rushed for 106 yards and a score. Mixon missed the entirety of the 2025 season due to a leg injury and was released by the Texans on March 6, 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mixon is recognized for his patience behind the line of scrimmage, contact balance, and ability to absorb hits between the tackles while still finishing runs. He is also a reliable receiver out of the backfield, capable of running routes into the intermediate level of the field. His pass-protection skills and football IQ have allowed him to remain on the field for all three downs throughout most of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mixon has been selected to two Pro Bowls, in 2021 and 2024, and was a first alternate in 2023. He threw a touchdown pass in Super Bowl LVI, becoming the third running back in league history to accomplish the feat, and set a Bengals single-game record with five touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
Joe Mixon Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Mixon has produced more than 7,400 rushing yards and 60 rushing touchdowns, alongside 319 receptions for 2,448 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. His win totals include contributions to playoff teams with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans, including a Wild Card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in January 2025.
Cincinnati Bengals Highlights
During his time with the Bengals from 2017 through 2023, Mixon rushed for more than 6,400 yards and was part of a 2021 team that reached Super Bowl LVI. He set a franchise record with five touchdowns in a single game during the 2022 season against the Carolina Panthers and earned multiple AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. His 13 rushing touchdowns in 2021 were the most by a Bengals player in more than three decades.
Other Wins and Performances
Mixon starred at the University of Oklahoma from 2014 to 2016, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2016 and helping the Sooners reach the College Football Playoff in 2015 and the Sugar Bowl in 2016. He finished his college career among the most productive running backs in program history.
Joe Mixon Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Mixon’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in Oakley, California, and has credited his upbringing and support system for helping him reach the NFL.
Personal Life
Mixon is a Christian and has spoken publicly about crediting his faith for his athletic ability. He has a daughter, born in October 2023, according to Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. He has described himself as low key and someone who prefers spending time at home with family.
2025 Season Performance
Mixon did not appear in any games during the 2025 NFL season after sustaining a leg injury. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the entirety of the campaign, removing him from Houston’s offensive plans for the year.
Without Mixon in the lineup, the Texans relied on other backs to handle rushing duties during the 2025 regular season and postseason. His absence was a significant factor in Houston’s backfield production, given his role as the lead back during the team’s 2024 playoff run.
Following the 2025 season, Mixon was released by the Texans on March 6, 2026, ending his tenure in Houston. His status as a free agent opens the door to a potential return to football with a new team in the next chapter of his career.
