Bob Mitchell’s contagious smile and easygoing demeanor might suggest otherwise, but underneath it is a fierce competitor who wants to win — whether he’s riding bulls or kicking around a hacky sack. Born in Somerset, Ohio, Mitchell grew up on an Angus farm in Missouri, where he became fascinated with the idea of staying atop an 1,800-pound animal athlete. At 11 years old, with help from his brother-in-law, Matt, he began teaching himself how to ride, first on a stationary barrel and then on his sister and brother-in-law’s mini cows near Steelville.

Mitchell quickly graduated to youth rodeos across Missouri, sometimes competing three or four times a week, before making his way into the PBR’s Touring Pro Division and Velocity Tour in 2021. A year later, he broke through on the premier series, earning 2022 PBR Rookie of the Year honors. Since then, Mitchell has qualified for the PBR World Finals four times, with his best individual campaign coming in 2026, when he finished a career-best No. 15 in the Unleash The Beast standings. That season also produced his highest-marked ride to date, a career-best 91.15 points aboard Tigger in the championship round in Billings, Montana.

Mitchell is quieter by nature, both in the locker room and away from it, but he’ll speak when spoken to and is always willing to join the conversation. When it comes time to compete, though, he prefers to let his riding do most of the talking. Now setting the tone for the New York Mavericks from the leadoff spot, Mitchell is tasked with getting the team started and using his riding to provide an early spark of energy. It’s a fitting role for a cowboy who doesn’t have to be the loudest voice in the locker room to make his presence felt — when Mitchell gets his job done, his teammates feed off it.