JB “The Dragon Slayer” Mauney is one of the first names you think of when you hear bull riding, if not the name. A two-time PBR World Champion (2013, 2015) and the sport’s seven million dollar man, Mauney built his legacy and nickname “The Dragon Slayer” for conquering the rankest bulls in the game, and he remains a defining figure of modern-day cowboy lore.

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Mauney was riding bulls before most kids his age had driver’s licenses. After winning the Southern Rodeo Association Junior All-Around title in 2002, he joined the PBR in 2005 and wasted no time making his mark. In his rookie season, he earned PBR Rookie of the Year honors, and by 2013, he was rewriting history — marking 95.25 points on Bushwacker to end the bull’s record buckoff streak and etch his name into PBR legend.

Over 15 seasons, Mauney became one of the sport’s most decorated athletes, qualifying for the PBR World Finals 15 consecutive times (2006–2020), winning the World Finals event twice (2009, 2013), and claiming 32 Premier Series event titles — tied with Justin McBride for the most in league history. In 2016, he made history once again, becoming the first rider to surpass $7 million in career earnings — a testament to his longevity, consistency, and unmatched toughness.

Mauney’s career wasn’t defined by comfort — it was built on pain, persistence, and pride. He rode through broken bones, torn ligaments, and every kind of setback imaginable, often taping up and climbing back in the chute before others had even stood up. But in 2023, the unbreakable finally met his breaking point. At the Lewiston Round-Up in Idaho, Arctic Assassin sent Mauney over his head and into the dirt — a split-second wreck that fractured his neck and brought one of bull riding’s greatest careers to an abrupt end. True to cowboy form, Mauney walked away with no bitterness, only perspective. Months later, in a twist fit for legend, he bought Arctic Assassin himself — the bull that ended his career now living peacefully on his ranch in Stephenville, Texas.

In 2024, Mauney brought his fire back to the PBR as head coach of the Oklahoma Wildcatters, one of the league’s newest Team Series franchises. Their first-ever competition took place in July 2024 during their “Wildcatter Days” homestand in Oklahoma City. His coaching philosophy mirrors his career — simple, tough, and grounded in respect earned, not given.

Off the dirt, Mauney lives in Stephenville, Texas, with his wife, Samantha. He has a son and a daughter — his son, Jagger Mauney, may just give the Dragon Slayer a run for his money in the wild category. Revered by fans and riders alike, JB represents more than just one of the greatest careers in PBR history — he’s the living embodiment of what it means to be a cowboy: tough, loyal, and forever part of bull riding’s soul.