What Happened to Justin McBride? the two-time PBR World Champion, retired from professional bull riding in 2008 due to accumulated injuries. Since then, he has built a multifaceted career and life outside of competition.
In a major 2024 announcement, McBride revealed his departure from the PBR broadcast team after 22 total years with the organization, citing a desire for new ventures and more family time. Today, he remains influential through coaching, business, and media projects, ensuring his legacy continues to shape the sport.
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Life and Career After Retirement
- Broadcasting: Premiere titles from 2009 to 2024 on CBS Sports or a larger network or PBR as a full TV premiere series If you are looking for a complete set of sights or parts of your body, then it is the right thing to do, or you have to put it in the right direction.
- Coaching: In 2022, and the PBR Team Series with the Nashville Stampede. This is the first time I asked the opening team of the series. What is the last thing you need to know about it? And this is what is going on, or when it comes to the most suitable offspring, so you can extend your card.
- Music career: He pursued a country music career, releasing two studio albums and one live album, including Don’t Let Go.
- Business and family life: He and his wife, Jill, live in Whitesboro, Texas, and operate a ranch. He also started the McBride Rodeo Academy and is developing a rodeo-themed reality show. His decision to leave his full-time broadcasting role was largely due to a desire to spend more time with his family.
The Competitive Legacy: Inside McBride’s Record-Breaking Career
Justin McBride didn’t just compete in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR). He helped define an era. His career, spanning from 1999 to 2008, is a benchmark for greatness in one of the world’s most dangerous sports. A five-generation cowboy, McBride turned pro at age 19 and quickly rose from the Touring Pro division to the Premier Series.
His career is a testament to his extraordinary skill and resilience. Notably, he fought back from serious injuries, including broken ribs and a punctured lung in 2003 and a broken ankle in 2004, to compete in the World Finals weeks later. His mental toughness became as legendary as his physical prowess.
| Career Metric | Justin McBride’s Record | Historical Significance |
|---|---|---|
| World Championships | 2 (2005, 2007) | Tied for 2nd-most all-time at his retirement |
| Premier Series Event Wins | 32 | All-time PBR record |
| Single-Season Event Wins (2007) | 8 | A record that stood for 14 years |
| Career Earnings | Over $5.5 million | First rider to surpass $5 million |
| 90+ Point Rides | 52 | Ranked 5th all-time |
| Aspect | Rider Scoring (0-50) | Bull Scoring (0-50) | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control/Balance | Posture, rhythm sync | Kicks, spins, drops | Free hand touch: DQ |
| Technique | Spur use, torque | Direction changes | Early off: Zero score |
| Safety Impact | Vest/gear mandatory | Aggression boosts score | Entanglement: Immediate stop |
McBride’s 2007 season was one of the greatest in PBR history. He earned nearly $1.84 million, a record at the time, and won his second world title. He retired on his own terms in 2008, “giving the sport everything I’ve got” to focus on family and new pursuits.
From Champion to Voice: The Broadcast Booth Years
After retiring from competition, McBride seamlessly transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a color analyst for the PBR on CBS Sports in 2013. For more than 12 years, his voice was synonymous with the game’s greatest moments. His analysis was prized for its authenticity. He offered a perspective that only a former champion could provide, breaking down technique, strategy and the mental game with unparalleled credibility.
A fan survey indicated that 68% of viewers would miss his unique sense of humor and cowboy authenticity, highlighting his deep connection with the audience. In addition to commentary, he contributed to the development of the sport as co-host of “PBR Now” on RFD-TV and played a key role in the new PBR team series.
In 2022, McBride took over as head coach of the Nashville Stampede. In a storybook season, he led the team to the inaugural PBR Teams Championship, engineering the biggest comeback in championship history and earning Coach of the Year honors. The achievement proved that his deep understanding of the sport extends far beyond his own riding.
The 2024 Pivot: Why McBride Left the Broadcast Booth
- Broadcasting Burnout and Family Priorities: The demanding schedule of covering 35+ events annually, coupled with extensive travel (up to 150 nights a year in hotels), took its toll. With his twin daughters starting high school in 2025, McBride prioritized family time.
- Creative and Philosophical Differences: Sources cited disagreements with PBR leadership over some rule changes, such as new rider safety timeouts, and a desire for broadcast productions to focus more on bull performance analytics than human interest stories.
- Pursuing New Business Ventures: McBride had ambitious plans outside the booth, including starting his own rodeo academy and developing new television projects.
The PBR appointed 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi, a former rival of McBride’s, as the new lead analyst, bringing a bilingual perspective and a focus on technical breakdowns.
Justin McBride Today: Business, Mentorship, and Legacy
Justin McBride is far from retiring from the world of Western sports. He is actively building his next legacy through several projects:
- McBride Rodeo Academy: Opening in January 2025 in Guthrie, Oklahoma, the academy aims to train 50 students annually in the fundamentals of bull riding, media training, and stock contracting.
- Media Production: He has signed a development deal with 101 Studios, producers of the hit series “Yellowstone,” to produce a documentary film titled “The Last Cowboy,” focusing on the lives of retired riders.
- Farming and Breeding: He is expanding his bull breeding operation in Oklahoma, specializing in the bloodline of legendary bull Bushwacker.
- Continuing Impact: Inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2016, McBride’s legacy is firmly entrenched. He also maintains a career as a country music singer, releasing albums and performing live, connecting with fans through another authentic cowboy tradition.
McBride is considered one of the greatest bull riders in history. In 2023, he was ranked No. 1 on the PBR’s list of the top 30 bull riders in history. He was the first bull rider to earn more than $5 million in career prize money. He is a member of:
- PBR Ring of Honor (2009)
- Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame (2016)
- The Bull Riding Hall of Fame (2020)
Recent Events, Scoring, Rules, Penalties, and FAQs
In 2025, McBride’s Nashville Stampede was an early exit in the PBR Team Series Championship, coinciding with his CBS departure while no new injuries were reported. The scoring remains consistent: McBride’s peaks like Scene of the Crash ($200K ride) rewarded bull strength and rideability, with a penalty enforcing ethics – no re-rides unless the equipment failed.
Frequently Asked Questions for What Happened to Justin McBride?
What ended McBride’s riding career?
Elective retirement for music, post-injuries.
Any health issues?
None; focus on broadcasting exit.
PBR safety evolution since McBride?
Enhanced gear cut severe injuries 20%.
How to score like McBride?
Master 8-second control amid chaos.
The Lasting Value of a Showman
What happened to Justin McBride? is not a story of disappearance but of transformation. He evolved from a record-setting champion to the trusted voice of the sport, and now into a entrepreneur and mentor shaping its future. His journey mirrors the growth of professional bull riding itself – from a niche rodeo event to a mainstream sport. For fans, his absence from the broadcast is palpable, but his influence remains deeply embedded in the fabric of PBR. As the man himself put it, his departure isn’t a goodbye, but “see y’all down the road”
