Cody Teel’s 15-year career carried him from small-town Texas dreams to world titles. Now he is taking a step back with a lifetime of lessons and memories made, earned eight seconds at a time.
After 15 years of competing on some of rodeo’s biggest stages, a PRCA World Champion and Nashville Stampede bull rider is hanging up his bull rope for the last time.
Cody Teel, the 2012 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion recently announced his retirement at the age of 33. This decision closed the book on a career that spanned both the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) arenas. The Texas native became known for champion consistency.
Teel’s career highlights include six qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Two years into his professional career, and at his first NFR appearance in 2012, he won the gold buckle. He qualified four straight years from 2012 to 2016, and again in 2023. Speaking of consistency, he also claimed two NFR average titles, in 2013 and 2015. In 2017, Cody made a transition to the PBR. There he continued his winning ways, qualifying for the PBR World Finals six times.
He was a member of the Missouri Thunder when PBR Teams launched in 2022. He took a year to go rodeo again, making his final NFR in 2023. Then returned to the pbr teams in the 2022 season joining the Nashville Stampede. He brought a lot of experience and championships to the arena under coach Justin McBride.
In a post reflecting on this successful career, Teel wrote, “All I wanted to be growing up was a bull rider. I can remember being a tall, lanky 14-year-old in the backyard riding my Mighty Bucky, visualizing riding all 10 bulls at the NFR. Though in reality I would only ride eight out of 10—twice—I learned the power of self-belief and how much you can accomplish if you just believe in yourself.”
Cody had the kind of career that took him way beyond his hometown, and his wildest dreams. He mentioned a few of the biggest stages that eight seconds on a bull took him, including Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles, and the deck of the USS Lexington. Teel said, “And the best of them all, Las Vegas Nevada,” said Teel.
The Nashville Stampede honored their teammate following his announcement, posting on social media, “A fierce competitor on the dirt and genuinely one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. We are grateful to have been a small part of Cody Teel’s incredible career. We wish him the very best in his next chapter of life. #StampedeProud.”
Cody had a great career, defined by more than just winning but also experiences that only the best get the opportunity to nod their head for. Now with two little girls and a beautiful wife waiting at home, Teel will get the chance to truly focus on life's biggest blessings, beyond the chute.