Joe Mixon appears to be teasing a possible NFL comeback, but as of October 4, 2026, he has not signed with a team or formally announced that he is returning.
The former Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans running back created speculation on October 3 when he posted a workout video showing himself training and ended it by declaring, “I’m back, baby!” The video came after months in which Mixon’s NFL career appeared likely to be over because of the serious foot injury that kept him out for the entire 2025 season. [For The Win]
There is an important catch: the video also promoted the OneSock brand, so it remains unclear whether Mixon was formally announcing his availability to NFL teams or simply using comeback language as part of the promotion. No team has announced a workout or signing for Mixon. [For The Win]
What Did Joe Mixon Say About Returning?
Mixon sparked the comeback speculation with a video posted to his social media accounts on October 3.
The video showed the veteran running back going through workouts and referenced the injury problems that had kept him away from football.
At the end, Mixon shouted:
“Let’s go! I’m back, baby!”
The message immediately raised the possibility that Mixon was declaring himself healthy and ready to return to the NFL. [Sports Illustrated]
However, Mixon did not explicitly say that he had signed with a team, scheduled an NFL workout or officially decided to resume his career.
Has Joe Mixon Signed With An NFL Team?
No.
As of October 4, Mixon remains an unrestricted free agent.
The NFL’s official player page lists Mixon as a UFA, or unrestricted free agent, and the league’s October transaction log does not show him signing with a club. [NFL] [NFL Transactions]
There also has been no confirmed report that Mixon has worked out for a team since posting the comeback video.
That means the most accurate description of his situation is that Mixon may be signaling that he is physically ready to pursue a return, but an NFL comeback has not yet actually happened.
Did Joe Mixon Retire?
No, at least not officially.
Reports during the summer indicated that Mixon had told former Bengals teammates that he believed his playing career was over.
Houston reporter Aaron Wilson reported in July that Mixon had told former Cincinnati teammates his career was finished following the complications from his foot injury. However, Mixon had not filed retirement paperwork with the NFL. [Cincinnati Enquirer]
That distinction now looks significant.
Because Mixon never officially retired, there is no procedural obstacle preventing him from signing with a team immediately if he is medically cleared and a club wants him.
Why Did People Think Joe Mixon’s Career Was Over?
The concern centered on a mysterious and apparently severe foot injury that wiped out Mixon’s entire 2025 season.
Houston initially described the problem only as an offseason foot injury. Texans general manager Nick Caserio later called it a “freak” injury and acknowledged that Mixon’s recovery had not progressed as hoped. [NFL]
Mixon never appeared in a game during 2025.
The uncertainty continued into 2026. Caserio revealed that Mixon underwent surgery during the offseason, but Houston still did not publicly disclose a precise diagnosis. [NBC Sports]
Reports later indicated that Mixon required another procedure, contributing to pessimism that he would ever be healthy enough to play again. [NBC Sports]
When Did Joe Mixon Last Play?
Mixon has not appeared in an NFL game since the 2024 postseason.
His final appearance came with Houston against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round in January 2025.
He then suffered the foot problem during the following offseason and missed all of 2025.
That means if Mixon returns during the 2026 season, he will be coming back after roughly 20 months without playing in an NFL game.
Why Did The Texans Release Joe Mixon?
Houston released Mixon on March 6, 2026 after his lost season and continuing health uncertainty.
Mixon had requested his release after the Texans traded for running back David Montgomery. Houston designated Mixon as a non-football-injury release, making him an unrestricted free agent. [NFL]
The move saved Houston approximately $8.5 million against the salary cap and effectively ended Mixon’s two-year tenure with the Texans.
The contrast between those two seasons was dramatic.
Mixon was one of Houston’s most important offensive players in 2024 before failing to play a single snap in 2025.
How Good Was Joe Mixon Before The Injury?
Mixon was still a productive starting NFL running back when healthy.
In his lone active season with Houston in 2024, he rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns despite missing three games. He also caught 36 passes for 309 yards and another touchdown. [NFL]
The performance earned Mixon the second Pro Bowl selection of his career.
He had seven games with at least 100 rushing yards during his first nine full games as a Texan, showing that he was still capable of carrying a substantial workload at age 28. [NFL]
What Are Joe Mixon’s Career Stats?
Mixon has built a substantial résumé over eight active NFL seasons.
His career totals include:
- 7,428 rushing yards
- 60 rushing touchdowns
- 2 Pro Bowl selections
- Four 1,000-yard rushing seasons
He has played 111 regular-season games since Cincinnati selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. [Pro Football Reference]
Mixon also played a major role in Cincinnati’s run to Super Bowl LVI following the 2021 season.
Could An NFL Team Sign Joe Mixon During The Season?
Yes.
Because Mixon is an unrestricted free agent, he can sign with any NFL team.
There is no trade required and no current contract another club would have to inherit.
A team interested in him would almost certainly want to conduct a medical examination and probably a workout first, particularly because Mixon’s foot injury was severe enough to keep him out for an entire season and apparently require multiple procedures.
If he demonstrates that he can run, cut and absorb contact without significant limitations, he could become an interesting midseason option for a team dealing with injuries at running back.
Why Might Teams Be Interested In Mixon?
The argument for signing Mixon is straightforward.
He is an experienced three-down running back who has demonstrated an ability to:
- Carry a starter’s workload.
- Run between the tackles.
- Catch passes.
- Protect the quarterback.
- Play in postseason games.
- Handle short-yardage and goal-line situations.
His most recent healthy season produced more than 1,000 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns.
That type of résumé could become particularly attractive as the NFL season progresses and teams lose running backs to injuries.
Why Might Teams Be Hesitant To Sign Joe Mixon?
The biggest issue is health.
Mixon has not played since January 2025 and has spent an extraordinary amount of time dealing with the same foot problem.
Houston itself appeared unsure about the injury for much of the process. Caserio acknowledged after the 2025 season that the injury had not improved as everyone had hoped. [NFL]
Mixon is also now 30 years old, an age at which NFL teams generally become more cautious about investing heavily in running backs. [Pro Football Reference]
A club would therefore have to determine whether the version of Mixon seen in his recent workout resembles the productive 2024 player or whether the foot injury has permanently reduced his explosiveness.
Could Joe Mixon Return To The Bengals?
A reunion with Cincinnati would naturally generate speculation because Mixon spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Bengals.
However, there has been no confirmed report as of October 4 that Cincinnati is pursuing Mixon.
The Bengals moved on from him following the 2023 season after deciding to reshape their running back room. Mixon later acknowledged that he had become frustrated with how Cincinnati was using him before the trade. [Sports Illustrated]
A return would therefore require both a football need and interest from both sides.
Could Joe Mixon Return To The Texans?
A Houston reunion appears even less obvious.
The Texans released Mixon in March after acquiring David Montgomery, and Mixon himself had asked the organization to release him. [NFL]
Nothing technically prevents Houston from signing him again, but there has been no indication that the Texans currently plan to do so.
Is Joe Mixon Healthy Now?
Mixon’s workout video strongly suggests that he wants people to believe he is healthy enough to train again, but there has been no independent NFL medical confirmation that he is ready to play.
That is the biggest unanswered question.
The video showed Mixon exercising and moving athletically, but an NFL medical evaluation would be much more extensive. Teams would want to know whether his foot can withstand repeated cutting, sprinting, blocking and contact over an NFL workload.
Until Mixon works out for a team or provides more specific information about his medical status, it is impossible to say that he has definitively completed his comeback.
Was The “I’m Back” Video Just An Advertisement?
Possibly.
That is why the comeback story needs some caution.
Mixon tagged OneSock in the post, and the video appears to have a promotional component. For The Win noted that it is unclear whether “I’m back” meant Mixon was officially announcing his NFL return or whether the phrasing was being used to create attention around the brand. [For The Win]
Mixon has not yet followed the video with a statement specifically saying that he is seeking an NFL contract.
What Would Confirm That Joe Mixon’s Comeback Is Real?
The next significant development would likely be one of three things:
- Mixon publicly announces that he is seeking an NFL contract.
- An NFL team brings him in for a workout or medical examination.
- A team signs him to its active roster or practice squad.
Until one of those things happens, Mixon’s status remains that of an unsigned veteran teasing a possible return rather than an NFL player who has officially completed a comeback.
The Bottom Line
Joe Mixon may be preparing to return to the NFL, but there is no confirmed comeback yet.
Mixon ignited speculation on October 3 by releasing a workout video and declaring, “I’m back, baby!” after previously appearing headed toward retirement because of the foot injury that cost him the entire 2025 season. [For The Win]
The 30-year-old never formally retired, however, and remains listed by the NFL as an unrestricted free agent. [NFL]
For now, there is no reported team workout, contract agreement or signing. The video is the strongest indication yet that Mixon may want another NFL opportunity, but the real test will be whether a team evaluates his surgically repaired foot and decides the former Pro Bowl running back is healthy enough to play again.
