Joe Mixon Hints at NFL Comeback Months After Suggesting Career Was Over

Former Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon has shared a social media video that has sparked speculation about a potential return to the NFL, just months after reportedly telling teammates his career was over.

Mixon, 30, missed the entire 2025 NFL season due to a mysterious foot injury and was released by the Texans in March. Houston general manager Nick Caserio had previously described the injury as a "freak" occurrence. In July, reports surfaced that Mixon had informed some teammates of his decision to retire from football.

Reports from KPRC-2 Houston indicated that Mixon was dealing with blood flow issues to his injured foot, requiring additional surgery recently. However, a video posted on Saturday to Mixon's social media featured clips from his NFL career alongside footage of him on a practice field. The video was set to a soundtrack featuring questions about his condition and future in the sport.

Toward the end of the video, Mixon is seen running into an end zone during a practice session and exclaims, "Let's go! I'm back baby!" He also posted an hourglass emoji, which many fans interpreted as a sign of an imminent NFL comeback.

The video concluded with the logo for ONE SOCK, a new company launched by Mixon that promotes "Better balance. More power. Faster recovery." The running back's latest social media activity has drawn attention as the Texans currently stand at 0-3 heading into Week 4 of the current NFL season.

Houston offered limited details regarding Mixon's recovery after announcing his foot injury, sustained away from the team facility, would sideline him for an extended period. In January, head coach DeMeco Ryans stated he had no definitive update on Mixon's condition or his potential return for the upcoming season. Ryans described the injury as a "freak thing," emphasizing that Mixon was not engaged in any irresponsible activities at the time of the incident.