In bull riding, eight seconds can make a career. But according to Cody Lambert, waving your free arm around won't help you get there.

For Jean Carlos “JC” Teodoro, that lesson came with a little tough love, a few animated conversations atop the bucking chutes and, eventually, a title to show for it.

Jean Carlos Teodoro (Mirante do Paranapanema, Brazil) of the Texas Rattlers was named the 2026 PBR Teams Rookie of the Year, capping a breakout season highlighted by two 90-point rides and a closely contested rookie race that came down to the final weekend of the regular season in Kansas City, Missouri, on Oct. 25.

Teodoro edged out fellow Brazilian Winy dos Santos of the Oklahoma Wildcatters to claim the honor and a $25,000 bonus, adding another individual accolade — and a sizable payday — to a Texas roster preparing for a postseason run.

The Brazilian entered the season with plenty of strength and talent, but still had some adjustments to make under Lambert's watchful eye.

And if there's one thing PBR co-founder and Texas Rattlers head coach Lambert knows, it's that having all the tools doesn't mean much if you aren't using them correctly.

"He's incredibly strong, and sometimes it's so simple. You just got to use your strength to control your body," Lambert said. "Sometimes waving your arm is fake. Making the whistle is real."

For Teodoro, learning the difference became a defining part of his rookie campaign.

The Brazilian wasn't entirely unfamiliar with PBR Teams before arriving in Fort Worth. He had previously spent time with the Arizona Ridge Riders before Texas signed him as an unrestricted free agent on June 30, 2026, adding another Brazilian talent to a locker room already anchored by veterans João Ricardo Vieira and Claudio Montanha Jr.

He made his presence felt almost immediately.

At the season-opening event in Fort Collins, Colorado, Teodoro delivered a 90.40-point ride aboard Yosemite Sam, providing the decisive score in Texas' 265.55-257.45 victory over the rival Austin Gamblers. The win improved the Rattlers to 2-0, making them the league's only undefeated team leaving the opening weekend.

But the road from an opening-weekend 90 to Rookie of the Year wasn't exactly smooth.

As the season progressed, Teodoro battled inconsistencies, particularly with his free arm. In Anaheim, he nearly conquered Wicked Solo, staying with the bull until the closing moments before a slap resulted in a no-score.

The issue was nothing new to Lambert, who saw the unnecessary arm movement as wasted energy rather than an advantage.

"He has the strength and the ability," Lambert explained. "There are three things that you need. Three, just three, or you can make them five if you want. But it's just these three. It's focus, posture, and commitment."

Or, as Lambert prefers to teach it: "Commitment, focus, commitment, posture, and commitment."

And when the message wasn't getting through, the longtime Rattlers coach wasn't afraid to turn up the volume.

"It's getting late enough in the season where we need to get a score," Lambert said. "So sometimes you have to explain it a little louder."

According to Rattlers assistant coach Brady Oleson, the corrections weren't about teaching Teodoro how to ride bulls. They were about helping him settle into the PBR Teams environment and trust the ability he already had.

"JC just had to get more comfortable on that stage," Oleson said.

The results eventually followed.

At Rattler Days in Fort Worth, Teodoro snapped a 10-out buckoff streak with an 88.10-point ride aboard Corriente, helping Texas defeat his former team, the Arizona Ridge Riders, on his new team's home turf. The victory extended the Rattlers' unmatched home record, making the moment even sweeter for the Brazilian newcomer.

Then came Kansas City.

During the final regular-season event, Teodoro received a re-ride opportunity against Wicked Solo on Oct. 24 after initially bucking off Tankums. This time, there would be no costly slap and no last-second mistake.

Teodoro matched Wicked Solo for a career-best 91.05 points, securing Texas' 268.40-178.25 victory over Arizona and recording his second 90-point ride of the season.

It was a particularly fitting rematch against an animal athlete that had gotten the better of him earlier in the year.

For Oleson, the performance was another indication of what Texas could have on its hands.

"We're just starting to see the beginning of it," he said.

But while Teodoro's improvement was evident inside the arena, another competition was developing outside it.

The Rookie of the Year race remained close heading into the final weekend, with Teodoro and dos Santos separated by a narrow margin in the standings.

Teodoro, however, was well aware of where he stood in the Rookie of the Year race. As one of just two rookies on the Texas roster, the individual honor wasn't a major topic of conversation inside the Rattlers locker room, where the focus remained on doing their job and riding one bull at a time. But the sharp-minded Brazilian had been keeping a close eye on the standings and knew exactly what was at stake.

Oleson recalled the Brazilian showing him the rookie standings during a practice roughly a week or two before the regular-season finale, proudly pointing out that he was sitting in first place.

Oleson and Lambert, however, were unaware of the specifics of the PBR Teams Rookie of the Year race until the final day, when J.W. Hart contacted Lambert to explain the implications of the lineup.

Suddenly, Teodoro's final regular-season appearance carried another layer of significance.

Although he bucked off Anvil in 3.50 seconds against Austin on Sunday, his season-long body of work was enough to secure the honor over dos Santos, with fellow Brazilian Daniel Feitosa also among the top rookie contenders.

Inside the Texas locker room, Oleson credits much of Teodoro's development to the environment surrounding him.

Veterans João Ricardo Vieira and Claudio Montanha Jr., along with fellow Brazilian Lucas Divino, have provided a familiar support system and examples of the discipline required to compete at the highest level.

And that discipline extends well beyond the bucking chutes.

At the Rattlers' new state-of-the-art training facility, a pegboard offers a different kind of eight-second challenge. At 42 years old, Vieira makes scaling the wall look effortless, moving from peg to peg with the strength and precision of a rider half his age. And according to Oleson, Teodoro isn't far behind.

"He's a very hard worker," Oleson said. "He shows up every time. He's as physically fit as JRV and Claudio."

But even for the strongest riders, miss one peg hole and suddenly you're left swinging, scrambling to find your grip again.

Beneath the pegboard sits a reminder of one of Lambert's favorite coaching philosophies: WIN — What's Important Now. Originally popularized by legendary football coach Lou Holtz, the mindset emphasizes focusing on the most important task or decision in the present moment rather than getting distracted by what came before or what might come next.

It's a fitting philosophy for Lambert's Rattlers, where success comes down to maintaining focus, controlling what you can and committing to the task at hand. Whether it's finding the next peg or making the eight-second whistle, the message remains the same.

Teodoro has continued practicing weekly, refining his riding mechanics and growing more comfortable within the team while learning from some of the sport's most experienced competitors.

"He's doing everything we're asking of him, and he's progressing," Oleson added.

Now, with the regular-season rookie title secured, Teodoro and the Rattlers turn their attention to the 2026 PBR Teams Championship, Nov. 6-8, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Texas finished the regular season fifth at 17-18, but with a roster and a rookie capable of delivering 90-point scores in critical moments, the Rattlers have another weapon heading into the postseason.

And for Teodoro, the next assignment from Lambert is simple.

Less waving. More winning.

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media