Heroes and Legends: 15 Most Famous Bull Riders of All Time

Heroes and Legends: 15 Most Famous Bull Riders of All Time 

Bull riding is one of the most exciting and dangerous sports in the world which requires a combination of skill, courage, and athleticism. The sport has become one of the most recognized and famous sports in the world. Most famous bull riders in history are renowned for their ability to ride some of the toughest bulls in the world and achieve success in the competition.

The greatest bull riders in the world have entertained millions of fans across the globe with their willingness to risk their lives every time they step into the arena and most do it because they love the challenge and the excitement of the sport. The likes of J.B Mauney, Tuff Hed and even Lane Frost have all made history in the sport with series of records after records. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous bull riders in history:

1. J.B Mauney

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James Burton “J.B” Mauney born on 9th January 1987 is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding and is considered one of the greatest bull riders of his generation. He is also ranked no. 9 on the list of the top bull riders in PBR history.

He was known for picking the rankest bull when there was a draw, especially in the championship round of most events. He has suffered several injuries in his career but he continued to pursue professional bull riding history and became one of the best in the world. He also won numerous accolades and awards in his career.

2. Jess Lockwood

Jess Lockwood born on 28th September 1997 is an American professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bullfighting and competes in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit. He became the youngest PBR World Champion and the youngest to win two PBR world championships.

He is one of the most successful bull riders in the world and has a younger brother who is also a professional bull rider known as Jake. Lockwood has suffered several injuries in his life career but has always managed to come back stronger.

3. Jose Vitor Leme

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Jose Vitor Leme Batista born on 15th August 1996 is a Brazilian professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in riding and holds the record of Woopa for the highest-scored ride in PBR history with 98.75 points. In 2019, he won the PBR world championship and was the youngest bull rider to win the title since 2001.

Leme has become a legend of the sport at a young age and is ranked no. 5 on the list of the best bull riders in the history of bull riding. He also played soccer for 11 years when he was younger when his parents separated earlier.

4. Shane Proctor

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Shane Proctor born on 24th March 1985 is an American rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding and is famous for his aggressive riding style and as being one of the most successful bull riders in the world today. He also began his career at a very young age making him one of the most experienced bull riders.

He has won several awards and accolades in his career including the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) world champion bull rider. Apart from being a bull rider, he has also tried different sports including being a Bareback and saddle bronc rider.

5. Ezekiel Mitchell

Ezekiel Mitchell born on March 8th, 1997 is an American professional cowboy who specializes in bull riding and is one of the top-ranked riders in the US and spends most of the year on the road competing in PBR events. He is also the only black bull rider on our list today which makes him a rare gem.

Mitchell also holds a degree in welding and is studying for an associate degree in Agriculture business at Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas. He has won a couple of accolades and awards in his career for his good statistics and is ranked among the world’s best bull riders.

6. Tuff Hed

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Richard Neale “Tuff” Hedeman born on 2nd March 1963 is an American former rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding and he is known as one of the founders of Professional Bull Riders (PBR). He also served as the president of PBR and the later president and Ambassador of Championship Bull Riding (CBR).

Hedeman won several accolades and awards in his career including being a champion bull rider on four occasions. He has also helped popularize the sport around the world and formed his bull riding organization known as “The Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour (THBRT). He was also inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2006.

7. Warren G. Brown

Warren Granger “Freckles” Brown born on January 18th, 1921 was a former American rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding, Saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, team roping, and steer wrestling known for his record of going more than 220 riders without defeat.

He received several awards and accolades in his career including the West Best Cowboy (World Champion) Award and a trophy for his lifelong contribution to the sport of rodeo. He is also inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, Bull Riding Hall of Fame, and many more. He died in 1987 aged 66.

8. Lane Frost

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Lane Clyde Frost born on October 12th, 1963 was an American professional Rodeo cowboy who specialized in bullfighting and competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). He was known for being the only rider to score qualified rides on Red Rock. He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, PBR Ring of Honor.

He was also inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame, the Bull Riding Hall of Fame, and the Molalla Walk of Fame. He died 25 after he was pushed against a muddy arena by a bull he was riding and he broke several bones he could later die in a local hospital.

9. Ty Murray

Ty Monroe Murray born on 11th October 1969 is an American former rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding and is renowned for being a nine-time world champion. He is also one of the co-founders and board adviser of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). He was a regular color commentator for several televised PBR events.

He is ranked no 11 on the list of the top bull riders in PBR history and he has won numerous awards and accolades including the Bull Riding Hall of Fame, ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, PBR Ring of Fame, and many more. He also has a PBR award named after him called the “Ty Murray Top Hand Award.

10. Adriano Moraes

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Adriano Moraes born on 20th April 1970 is a Brazilian former professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding and is considered to be one of the greatest bull riders of all time having begun riding bulls at a young age. He was known for his aggressive riding style and his ability to ride the toughest bulls in the world.

He won several professional 3-times PBR World Champion and NFR Champion. He has also been inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, PBR Ring of Honor, and Bull Riding Hall of Fame. He retired from professional bull riding but continues to be involved in the sport both as a coach and commentator.

11. Chris Shivers

Christopher Lee “Chris” Shivers born on 30th December 1978 is an American former rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding and competed on the Professional Bull Rider (PBR) circuit. He is ranked no.6 in the list of the top bull riders in the history of PBR.

He has also won numerous accolades and awards including being inducted into the PBR Ring of Honor and the Bull Riding Hall of Fame. He is also second to win multiple PBR world titles after Adriano Moraes and also suffered numerous injuries in his career but fought through to become one of the best in the world.

12. Don Gay

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Donald “Don” Gay born on September 18th, 1953 is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding and is renowned for being an 8-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) bull riding champion.

He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, PBR Ring of Honor, Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, Bull Riding Hall of Fame, and many more. His father Neal Gay was also a bull rider and they were both inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame becoming the only father and son to receive that honor.

13. Justin McBride

Justin Travis McBride born August 7th, 1979 is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding renowned for being two times PBR Word Champion (200 and 2007) with a record of 32 career PBR Premier Series event wins.

He has also worked as a color commentator for PBR’s Premier Series and has also been the head coach of the Nashville Stampede during the PBR Team Series season. He is also ranked no 1 on the list of the top bull riders in PBR history. He was inducted into the PBR Ring of Honor, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Bull Riding Hall of Fame.

14. Guilherme Marchi

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Guilherme Marchi born on 22nd July 1982 is a Brazilian former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bullfighting and competed in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit and ranks no. 14 on the list of the top bull riders in PBR history.

He has also worked as an assistant coach of the Kansas City Outlaws. He was one of the most consistent riders in his career and one of the best bull riders of his time. He won several awards and accolades in his career and was inducted into the PBR Ring of Honor and the Bull Riding Hall of Fame.

15. Jim Sharp

James Sharp born on October 6th, 1965 is an American former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull rider who rode professionally for nearly 20 years was a co-founder of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and was considered among the most talented bull riders in history.

He is ranked no. 3 in the PBR history and also won numerous awards and accolades in his career including being inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame, PBR Ring of Honor, ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame, and many more.

These are some of the best bull riders in history and though they experienced hardships in their careers they went on to achieve great things and won the hearts of many bull riding fans throughout the world. This sport is one of the hardest though among the most loved sports in the modern world.