Top 10 Best Bull Riders of All Time
Lane was the best bull rider to ever live I wasn't alive when he rode but Jesus that man was the definition of what a bull rider should be and he showed it he was and still is the best in the world.
Out of 309 Cowboys Lane was the first and only bull rider to ever ride Red Rock. In fact he rode him 4 out of 7 times. Lane won the Challenge of the Champions against Red Rock 4-3. The best bull rider vs the best bull.
So sad that his time here was short. But a true inspiration and great bull rider. Saw him ride and win. Our son is named after him.
He was good, but no way was he the best, just because he died and they made a movie about him does not make him the best ever. R.I.P.
J.B. Mauney is by far my favorite. I love watching his ride on Bushwacker where he made history for being the first cowboy to ride Bushwacker for the full 8 seconds! That had to have been a pretty scary 8 seconds and an awesome celebration afterwards!
J.B definitely deserves to be higher on this list. There are few people who can do what he did. I can't put him above Lane, but he for sure has my #2 spot. His composure while riding is unbelievable.
Has rode more previously unridden bulls than anybody I've ever seen. Definition of a dragon slayer. Doesn't take any extra time in the chute, slides and rides, and always picks the rankest bull available in drafts.
Defiantly up there with some of the best, and I personal think its inexpressive for a 5'10 29 year old man to be up there now as the top bull rider of the world. And another thing its way cool he rode Bush Wackker as the first ever
Tuff is no puss. A promise is a promise. I believe that tuff should be shoulder to shoulder with lane in number one! By the way, you don't get nicknamed "tuff" by being a puss. All bullriders are tuff but to have that nickname, you had to be the tuffest!
In the comment below calling Tuff a puss is not fair. Bo was killing everybody off and a promise is a promise. Wise move to turn him out.
The people calling him a puss are the real puss' themselves. One hell of a man!
Outstanding to ride for 1st enemy lane frost. Deserves more respect.
Chris is my favorite. Lane being the best. Then my uncle Ronnie Roach rode circles around Don Gay back in the day. Just didn't have the money or political backing that Don had.
I think he is the most rank bull rider there has ever been I think he is first in my opinion then lane but lane is a rank bull rider to.
More 90+ Point bull rides then any other man that tells the story there. Flawless and really new how to make Bulls look good
Certainly a top 10... Not sure about best of all time.
Just a thought about the comment of calling someone an "autistic jew" to point out you think that person knows nothing is both insensitive to those with disabilities and anti-Semitic. Autism is growing, and sadly you may soon have a friend or family member impacted by this yourself.
Just as important, even though I am not Jewish, I will bless the Jewish people, especially for giving us the Messiah. I can see you feel strongly about your opinion, but respectfully ask you give your opinion without name calling.
Best rough stock rider ever. Had he only ridden Bulls he could have been the best ever. Bareback horses an Broncs took a toll Ty.
Doubt the top ten!
King of the cowboys
Best Bull Rider of All Time by Far. He set the mark for all riders in the sport. He was 3 time world champion that helped mold Alves, Marchi and all other Brazilian Riders, to be as good or better than most riders in the world.
Adriano made tough bulls look easy and he is by far a better bull rider than most of the riders on the top 10 list! I noticed there are no Brazilian riders on the list...but there have only been 2 ruders who have won 3 World titles and they are both Brazillian!
A 1 rider and the reason I got so interested in bull riding. Miss seeing him and glad he got out before he got permanently injured. A good Christian family man and ambassador for Bull Riding
Bias exists towards Brazilian riders but jb mauney has had his ass handed to him. Moraes is better so is alves and Pacheco will be better than all them. Lane frost is #1 though
I was blessed to have ridden in Donny's era and knew him, Lane, Denny and all of the NFR qualifiers. Put simply, Donny Gay is the greatest there ever was or that will ever will be and was absolutely revered by the other riders. In his day the PRCA was the only show in town and Donny rode against and won against all the top hands. Now the very top bull riders are in the PBR. Despite what some are saying on this post; Donny was a not only a great rider who hade supreme belief in himself but more that that, he was absolutely determined to win. I have seen him ride bulls when a normal human could hardly walk. He also went to every single rodeo he could ride in where as some of the guys who could really ride such as Denny went to half the rodeos Donny did. In other words, Donny did whatever was necessary to win and that's why he has 8 gold buckles. When it come to winning bullriding championships no one else comes close.
Donnie always said his brother Pete was better than he was but obviously Pete tired of the travel, but Donnie had the desire to top Jim Shoulders record.
Donnie has the the mind and heart of a champion. He has always been kind to the men working the chutes as well as the riders. He is still a sweet guy who cheers on the sport and helps whenever he can. He worked his butt off to get to where he is.
PRCA was full of politics when Donnie Gay was winning. Judges always loaded his scores. I saw it many times and so did plenty others.
Great bull rider! And whoever called him a racist pig is a cowardly jealous nobody.
He is a racist pig
Two time world champion at the age of 22...
A good rider. Love to watch him.
Best form, best attitude, best results on most difficult bulls, quiet precision, modest, not a camera hog, overall most admirable.
NO! Good but not good enough for the top ten!
Made it look easy!
Best of the Best he don't get the credit he deserves because he didn't rodeo in the PRCA hard until later in his career. Dominated match bullridings from coast to coast. Finished 2 in the PBR World standings 3 years in a row and rode every rank bull alive during his career.
When Terry Don was at his best, no body else could touch him. I guess you could say that about a lot of the cowboys listed here, but comparing him to all others in their prime... I would vote for Terry Don as number one.
Think 5 world chap buckles an holds lots of records. Like riding Bodacious for the first time for 8 Seconds. He also wrote most of the top name bulls and then get thrown off he also Road 55 Bulls before he was thrown off the world record Terry Don West is one of the best bull riders ever give Tuff Hedeman and Lane Frost a run for their money or beat them
Best bullrider of all time! TDW rode more rank bulls than anyone. His time in BRO/PRCA were incredible. He had to qualify for the PBR in 1998 through 4 touring pro events and rode his 15/15 when he hit the PBR. He was already 33 years old then and won his 2nd PRCA title at 38 years old. TDW rode eliminators like no one before or since.
I know this guy and I can tell you he is the best every. Just watch the 2008 PBR finals and compare his ride to Justin McBrides. Just wins but he did so hanging on to dear life off the side of the bull. Marchi's ride was spot on. Further more I don't see very many 35 year old men riding bulls at any level. PRCA bulls...second rate compared to PBR. The person with the previous comment is incorrect!
GOOD LORD NO! Could have never made the PRCA! Or, any organization that would not let him choose his own bulls in the draw! Couldn't have stood up to the daily grind of the PRCA!
He is wonderful he has been an inspiration to many! He is awesome person! He has been a family friend for a long time!
Guillaume finished on the top 10 for eight years straight including a 2008 championship. Has the most qualified rides ever and way ahead of 2nd place (JB). He should rank much higher, maybe even #1
The best ever was and a great person has keep his nose clean...the legend!
Silvano alves by riding percentages and titles at still young age. Producers say toughest bulls on earth then complain silvano don't take rerides. he rode what they gave him, that is their job to have tougher bulls. Just don't think they like the brazilians kicking our butts
Silvano is amazing to watch on the bull. You think he's going off, only to right himself, and go 8 seconds. JB Mauney #1, Silvano #2! Lane Frost #3 would've been 1, Ty Murray #4.
Silvano Alves is the youngest bull rider to win 3 world titles and is the only bull rider to win back to back titles.
Absolutely the best!
I wonder why they don't put him on top of the list. Jealous that someone can be that good.
Had perfect form. Rode all 10 bulls IN THE FINALS. A feat that will likely never be matched. All the best rodeo scorers say that he was consistently scored lower than most riders because he made it look effortless. Other riders called him "The Natural"
We followed Jim Sharp since his High School days. Jim was the reason we started going to rodeos.
When Jim Sharp was the first cowboy to ride all ten bulls at the NFR in Las Vegas we were the only
ones who got on the arena floor with Jim Sharp to take pictures. I wore the same colors as Jim and
everyone who looks at the pictures ask if he is our son. That day we were as proud as any "parents"
could be. To us he will always be number one!
Even Tuff Hedeman said in front of Donny Gay that Jim Sharp was the best bull rider that he's ever seen. Bob Tallman said it right when he said that Jim Sharp rides the rank ones so well that he makes them look easy and should get scored higher. First man to ride 10 out of 10 at the NFR, then 9 out of 10 at the next NFR (that's 19 consecutive) against the best bulls in the business.
Best bull rider ever = Jim Sharp.
The best hands down! Used his feet! Didn't float bulls like these guys do now! Razor Sharp the best ever!
Troy would be the best Aussie we've produced. He rode Australia's rankest bulls and took on the worlds best abs won. One Australian deserves a top 10 spot and 2 Brazilians. It's the best ever not US best.
Troy was too ten consistent rider plagued with injury, even though the Aussies seem to be naturally tougher than the yanks
My favorite of all time..
Top 5 I think.lane Frost is over rated he wasn't around long enough for us to know how great. Certainly impressive lovely man
He is amazing! And is probably the most hilarious bull rider out there. He also just has talent
He doesn't suck.
He's got style
Hard to compare eras of competitors, but shoulders was right up there with the best for more than a decade.
Jim. Sholders. Was great but I wonder what the greats thought of gean lyda never saw a bull rider spur a bull like he did
Mike is as tuff as rawhide but still gets the money at his advanced age. If not in the top ten in talent anymore he's surely the best in the world for his age.
Mike has always been a fan favorite for what he does in and outside of rodeo. He's a great guy all around
Up there with Lane Frost and Larry Mayan!
At one time he was the best he rode better as a teenager then he does now
Mr Outlaw I pray for your safety and that you will win the world title and championship love to watch you ride and look forward to see more be safe god bless.
Best all around especially when you consider his inspiring comments after each ride. The most fun to watch
Guess you could say the true Outlaw of Professional Bull Riding
J w Hart, is one of the toughest and one of the best bull riders, by far, to never win the world, but to many of us, he was a world champion.
Best. And best attitude.
Tuffest bull rider to date. He didn't miss a ride that's why he got the name a Ironman
Rode with lane frost
The man, the myth, the legend! Hailing from Arkansas, he could ride anything, no what the bull threw at him. He rode a perfect score of 50 points, and the bull he was riding scored a 48, for a combined score of 98! I know that it's not a technically impossible score to beat, but good luck beating a score of 98! Hats off to you brother, one the best ever. You completely deserve the hall of fame, along with a few others as well. I will say that there are a couple that don't deserve that honor, but everyone knows who is truly great, versus who doesn't belong in the ranks of these great men.
Denny was the best ever. He wasn't able to make as many events as some because he lacked $$ to fly. Look him up! When he was gored so badly, he got up out of the dirt holding his guts inside with his hands! I thank God that there was a doctor very close. The horn missed his heart, liver, &spine each by a fraction of an inch! He was back on a bull 3-4 weeks after the accident. He was my husband's roommate at Uof A. He is good as gold. He'd do all he could to help anyone. He gets my vote. He meets all of the criteria X 10. God bless him always.
Denny could ride the eliminators, the spinners, I didn't matter. He was a great athlete who happened to choose bull riding. Top 5 for sure.
The best ever
Kaique Pacheco was fun to watch him win in 2018 and come in second in 2015 and 2016. he is my favorite!
He makes it look so easy!
Great bull rider. Fun to watch. Calm, poised. Hope he has a long successful career.
Rides like he knows what the bull will do before the bull knows!
He knows how to handle the bull and is fun to watch.
Those who never saw Freckles ride shouldn't be voting for these other Bull riders . . No one rode with more authority and control than Freckles . . .
He was an amazing athlete, rode a bull, then just step off!
He was a great one from when I was young. Saw him in NM. He and Lane Frost were tight.
For years the best
The best technical bull rider, Sage makes really rank bulls look like a day off. His body position and free arm allow him to make huge moves look easy.
He keeps moving on up
Good bull rider
If sage keeps doing his thing he will be better than lane frost