🔥 Trending Joe Mixon: NFL Career Over? What You Need to Know

Joe Mixon is an American professional football running back who has played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans ²⁷. He was born on July 24, 1996, in Oakley, California ¹.

Early Life and College Career

Mixon played college football at the University of Oklahoma, where he was recognized as a first-team All-Big 12 player ⁷⁸. His collegiate performance led to him being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft ⁷.

NFL Career Highlights

Mixon's NFL career has been marked by his powerful running style and versatility ².

Cincinnati Bengals (2017-2023)

He spent his initial years in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, establishing himself as a key offensive player ²⁷. During his tenure with the Bengals, he achieved multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons ³.

Houston Texans (2024-2026)

In 2024, Mixon joined the Houston Texans, where he continued to demonstrate his capabilities, recording another 1,000-yard rushing season ³⁵.

Recent Developments and Injury

Mixon's career took an unexpected turn in 2025. After a productive debut season with the Texans, he was placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list in July 2025 due to a mysterious foot injury that led him to miss the entire 2025 season ³⁵¹⁰. The specifics of his injury were not widely discussed by the team or Mixon ¹⁰.

In March 2026, Mixon's time with the Houston Texans officially ended when he was released by the team. Reports indicated that Mixon himself requested the release ⁶. This release occurred ahead of the NFL free agency period and followed the Texans' acquisition of another running back, David Montgomery ⁶¹⁰.