The world of rodeo has witnessed its fair share of legendary bull riders. This whole summer, the Professional Bull Riders League, in association with Pendleton Whisky, ran a campaign. The campaign aimed to identify the top 30 bull riders that have earned their legendary status through their exceptional performances on a bull. With each passing week, the official PBR handle revealed names on their social media, which included the likes of Michael Gaffney, TY Murray and Owen Washburn.

However, the whole bull-riding community eagerly waited for who will be crowned king. Well, it is no longer a surprise as PBR has announced the greatest-ever bull rider to grace the sport, but oddly enough, he does not agree with their assessment.

Justin McBride becomes the king of the rodeo

Justin McBride has an impressive two-time PBR World Champion title under his belt (2005, 2007). He also boasts of an extraordinary 32 premier series victories, an all-time record he shares with fellow two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney. But that’s not all. McBride’s name is also registered in the history books for securing the most event wins in a single season – an impressive eight, standing shoulder to shoulder with another two-time World Champion, Jose Vitor Leme. He also became the first person to achieve the monumental feat of breaking the $5 million career earnings mark, a feat that sealed his spot in the PBR’s Ring of Honor in 2009. However, despite his glorious records, McBride is as humble as ever and he does not agree with the PBR rankings that crowned him the greatest bull rider of all time.

According to a PBR report, McBride said, “I think that’s definitely a huge compliment. Pretty humbling, really. I probably don’t share that sentiment. I appreciate it – I don’t share it. I’ve known, just in my lifetime, some guys that I would put ahead of me that were before me, guys that won in my career that I would put before me. But yeah, it’s definitely a huge compliment. But I don’t know how you ever determine that. Every generation is different. Every era is different. I do appreciate it, but I would respectfully disagree.” 

McBride’s exceptional sportsmanship and appreciation for the history of bull riding are evident. He holds fellow riders like Tuff Hedeman, Jim Sharp, Troy Dunn, J.B. Mauney, and young talents Jess Lockwood and Jose in high regard. Today rodeo legend McBride is the head coach of the PBR Camping World Team Series’ Nashville Stampede, with whom he won the inaugural PBR Teams Championship last year. However, this year, things have not worked out so well for McBride.

A slow start for Justin McBride

The Nashville Stampede had high hopes following their triumphant victory at the PBR Teams Championship. However, the 2023 season has been slow for them and has left them winless in their first five games. A number of challenges have contributed to this, but the biggest obstacle has been injuries. Kaique Pacheco, the reigning 2018 World Champion, and the team’s captain, faced a severe setback when he fractured his right tibia and fibula in late April. This injury forced him to withdraw from the PBR World Finals, hindering the Stampede’s winning prospects. The newly acquired talent, Jess Lockwood, had to navigate his inaugural season with the Stampede hampered by a pelvic injury, participating in only four UTB events. However, McBride isn’t concerned about the results and hopeful of a turnaround.

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As for his bull rodeo career, McBride finds gratitude in every phase of his journey. He fondly remembers his early triumphs and the lessons he learned from the ones that got away. His heartfelt appreciation for his bull riding career highlights not just his remarkable achievements, but his enduring love for the sport that made him a legend. McBride’s records speak for themselves, but his humility and passion for the sport are the real source of inspiration for younger bull riders.

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