Chase Outlaw has proven that he is about as tough as they come when it comes to Professional Bull Riding. In 2017, he finished number six in the World. But in July, 2018, he suffered what many considered to be a career-ending wreck with a bull named War Cloud at the Touring Pro Division event at Cheyenne Frontier Days. He broke 30 bones in his face and had a 12-hour surgery to rebuild it. He now has four pieces of surgical mesh, 11 titanium plates and 68 screws in his face. In addition to this he has had double reconstructive shoulder surgery, both shoulders dislocated, sprained pelvis and groin and hand surgery. He returned to bull riding 75 days after the surgery.
One year after his 12-hour facial surgery he won Last Cowboy Standing, a PBR major event. That wasn’t all. In 2019, Outlaw went 75 for 152 (50%) at all levels of competition. This put him at the top. No other rider attempted more bulls or had more qualified rides in 2019. At the end of 2019, Outlaw was Number 3 in the World.
In December 2019, he underwent double reconstructive surgery on his shoulder and in March will undergo more facial surgery to fix one of the plates in his face. But don’t think for a minute he has been just sitting around the house. This month he and Cooper Davis were on the coaching staff of the Team USA Eagles under Justin McBride. Team USA Eagles won the 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort PBR Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy.
McBride said of Outlaw, “You can’t replace Outlaw. There is no other Outlaw out there. Not just from a riding standpoint, just from what Chase is. There is nobody else like that.”
In 2019, he began to be a true leader inside and outside the locker room. It looks to continue in 2020. Outlaw says it was such an honor to be asked to be a part of the Global Cup.
“Being a part of that and getting them fired up helped get me motivated to get back to riding.” said Outlaw. He credits the greats who influenced him as a rider and feels that it is up to the riders today to implant the importance of the sport to the younger generation to keep the sport going.
“We are just waiting for President Trump to invite the team to the White House.” he said.
His attitude about his injuries is, “That’s just part of it. I knew going in that that’s part of the game. It’s a matter of when and how bad.” Outlaw has great faith and says he tries not to feel sorry for himself because that doesn’t get you anywhere.
“My wife, Nicole, might tell you a little different about that. But you just have to improvise, adapt and overcome.” says Outlaw.
