Joe Mixon is currently an NFL free agent, but it’s possible his playing days are over.
The two-time Pro Bowler missed all of last season with a mysterious injury, and now a recent update from Houston Texans reporter Aaron Wilson has ignited retirement rumors.
Joe Mixon Telling Former Bengals Teammates His NFL Career Is Over
Mixon has reportedly told some former Cincinnati Bengals teammates that he’s done playing football. Wilson delivered the news on a Tuesday livestream, relaying that Mixon has been candid with old friends about walking away.
“He has told some friends, players for the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played before, that he is not going to play football anymore,” Wilson said, adding that he has dealt with blood flow issues with his foot, which “recently” required another surgery.
How Mixon got hurt remains unclear. The star running back sustained a non-football-related injury last offseason, which sidelined him for the entire season. While details of the incident haven’t been made public, it has been confirmed that the injury involves Mixon’s foot. Texans general manager Nick Caserio called it a freak medical situation and admitted the team didn’t know where his recovery stood.
BUILD YOUR OWN TOP 100: PFN’s FREE NFL Top 100 Builder
Last time Mixon was healthy, he had one of the best seasons of his NFL career. In 2024 with the Texans, Mixon rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns on 245 carries while adding 36 receptions for 309 yards and another score.
He led the team in total touchdowns during both the regular season (11) and playoffs (2), firmly establishing himself as the backbone of the offense. Mixon was the 12th-best running back in the NFL that season, according to PFN’s RB Impact Score, as he posted a 77.6 grade.
The fact that he’s dealing with blood-flow issues is likely what turns this from a long rehab into a potential career-ender. Wilson has reported that Mixon tried non-surgical options, including electromagnetic therapy, but that his foot lacked the circulation it needed to heal. Muscle and bone recover on a schedule, but vascular problems in the foot are the kind of thing that can end a career.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator
It’s worth noting that Wilson stopped short of calling Mixon’s retirement official, but he’s not optimistic.
“I had a source close to Joe tell me recently there’s some hope,” Wilson said. “Some hope, but I think it’s probably over.”
Houston released Mixon on March 6 at his own request, clearing $8 million in cap space and formalizing a split that the David Montgomery trade had already set in motion.
Mixon ranks seventh among active players with 7,428 career rushing yards, he’s scored 60 times on the ground, and he made the Pro Bowl as recently as 2024. Yet the fact that he remains unsigned after hitting the open market has to do with the uncertainty surrounding his injury and future.
Mixon turns 30 this week, the age at which front offices already start discounting running back mileage before you add a full season lost to a mystery injury. After a decade as a true workhorse, it’s very possible we’ve seen the last of Mixon in the NFL.
