At this year’s NFR Open in Colorado Springs, 19 year old Avery Mullins made a statement, being the only bull rider to cover all three of his bulls and earning the 2025 bull riding title.
However, the victory came at a price. After making a successful 8 second ride on Dirty Bru in the final round, Mullins’ dismount ended in a hard landing on his head. The impact resulted in a fractured C6 vertebra in his neck, along with breaks in his T3, T5, and T6 vertebrae in his upper back.
Before the injury, Mullins was sitting No. 5 in the Resistol Rookie of the Year standings with $57,163 in earnings, and ranked No. 27 in the PRCA world standings. Unfortunately, this injury will sideline him for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Mullins described the experience as a whirlwind of emotions but called it a blessing in disguise. With a handful of other injuries already stacking up, he now has the opportunity to take the necessary time to fully recover, with his sights set on returning healthy and stronger for the 2026 season.