After a rough wreck at the Greeley Stampede, a groin injury has forced John Crimber out of competition.
Cowboy Christmas is the best time of the year for most rodeo athletes. It marks calendars throughout the year, and the time has finally come.
Sadly, one of the biggest names in Bull Riding, John Crimber, has just announced that he will be unable to compete in this year’s Cowboy Christmas due to a groin injury.
This is an unfortunate turn of events, but rodeo athletes must take their health seriously and allow themselves to heal properly. Limited details have been shared, and there is no official estimation of when Crimber will return to competition. Groin injuries are not uncommon among bull riders, and we saw many riders battling such injuries at the 2026 PBR World Finals.
Although these injuries can be ridden through depending on the severity, with the majority of the season ahead of him, John Crimber needs to take the time to treat this injury as early as possible to give him the largest portion of his season at his best.
Currently sitting at world No. 6 in the PRCA, he still holds a good spot to qualify for the NFR, and will likely still stay in the running for rookie of the year. The injury occurred at the Greeley Stampede earlier this week, when Crimber was bucked off by Sharp Dressed Man. John was seen limping out of the arena, though in the end he had to be helped off the dirt.
This injury was shocking to many as Crimber has been having a monumental season so far. Already named the 2026 PBR World Champion, he has his sights set on another championship title during his rookie season in the PRCA circuit.
Although this interruption to his season might mean the end of that dream for some riders, this Texas cowboy has shown that, for him, it’s not over until it’s over.
Winning the 2026 PBR World Finals with an unbelievable comeback from his early clean sweep in the first weekend of the competition, John Crimber is sure to have some surprises up his sleeve for the rest of the competition in his 2026 season.
Another factor to consider is the upcoming PBR Teams Series. Set to begin in just a few short weeks, Crimber was viewed as a key component of the Florida Freedom team.
By focusing on healing now, he could very well be securing a successful season for his team with the possibility of adding another winning title to his belt.
Overall, this was an extremely unfortunate occurrence that has forced John Crimber to miss out on Cowboy Christmas. Rodeo fans will miss seeing him in the arenas, but are hopeful to see the champ back soon.
