Joe Mixon’s NFL career appears to be over after a serious foot injury that required surgery ahead of the 2025 season. Although his overall health and quality of life have improved, multiple reports indicate he is unlikely to play again, with some sources noting there’s a glimmer of hope but retirement is the more probable outcome. He has not formally filed retirement papers, but conversations with former Bengals teammates suggest his playing days are finished. Officials have rejected rumors about the injury, including sensational claims about shooting himself in the foot or other improbable causes. Mixon played seven seasons with the Bengals before a 2024 trade to the Texans, where he posted notable production in his first year with Houston. Even as teams reportedly monitor him, insiders say there is little indication he’ll return to football, and recent reports quote Mixon as telling friends his career is likely over.