Less than three years ago, PRORODEO saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley faced the most serious injury of his career. While competing at the Greeley Stampede in Greeley, Colo., on June 25, 2023, Crawley was pinned against the chute. A burst fracture of T12 and damage to T11 and L1 resulted in a surgical spinal fusion of T10, T11, T12, L1, and L2.
After battling through a lengthy recovery, given the grim prognosis of likely not riding bucking horses competitively again, Crawley’s healing impressed even the doctors. Crawley had to give it one more shot, so he rode a handful of practice horses and felt his back could handle competing. By the end of 2024, he was riding professionally again.
Crawley is a legend of the event, qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo 10 times in a row (2011-2020). He has finished inside the top 50 (and inside the top 30 in all but one of those years) every year since 2021 except 2024, when he was recovering…