Bengals have an obvious decision to make if rumors surrounding Joe Mixon prove to be true
Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon appears to be retiring soon. If his NFL career is indeed over, his original team owes him a proper sendoff.
Joe Mixon’s NFL career appears to be finished.
KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson stated during a live video the former Cincinnati Bengals running back has made it known to former teammates he is done playing.
“No, he has not filed his retirement papers,” Wilson said. “He has told former teammates from the Bengals that his career is over.”
If his playing days are indeed over, the Bengals owe him a proper sendoff.
Bengals should eventually sign Joe Mixon to a one-day contract
Mixon didn’t play his entire career in Cincy, but he will be viewed as a Bengal more than anything else. He spent two seasons with the Houston Texans after being traded in 2024, and suited up for just one of them thanks to the foot injury that has likely ended his career.
Bringing Mixon back on a one-day contract to officially retire as a Bengals player is the right move.
Mixon played seven years in Cincinnati and ended up second in franchise history in touchdowns (49) and third in rushing yards (6,412). He was a fan favorite, team captain, and one of the faces of the 2021-22 playoff squads.
It would not be a surprise to see Mixon make his way back to Paycor Stadium one last time to sign a one-day contract to retire as a Bengal, much like what A.J. Green did not too long ago. I think that’s exactly where this is heading, and it would be a fitting end for a player who gave Cincinnati seven productive years at a position where longevity is never guaranteed.
Mixon’s career lasted longer, and shorter, than expected
The Bengals drafted Mixon in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft when most other clubs weren’t even considering drafting him. He was uninvited from the NFL Scouting Combine that year and removed from countless teams’ draft boards following an incident during his college days at Oklahoma in which he struck a woman.
Cincinnati took a chance on a then talented, but polarizing, 21-year old tailback. He rewarded the organization with growth and a good amount of longevity.
Mixon was a critical member of both playoff teams in 2021 and 2022, serving as the lead back of Zac Taylor‘s offense during the franchise’s most successful stretch in decades. It only took him one year to prove himself a valuable member of the locker room despite being a holdover from a previous coaching staff.
The Bengals were set to move on from Mixon in 2024, and he signed a three-year deal with the Texans after being traded there for a seventh-round pick. He had much to prove in his first year with his new team, rushing for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns and earning his second and final Pro Bowl nod.
His second chapter, however, seems to have been cut short with his foot injury.
Like so many RBs, age caught up to Mixon. He turns 30 this week, and the severity of his injury appears to have closed the door on his time in the league.
It’s only right for his original team to hold the door open, one last time.