The Cincinnati Bengals media spoke with Joe Mixon on the phone after his selection to the team in Round 2 of the 2017 NFL Draft. Mixon was reportedly crying with joy for much of the call and sounded very humbled by being drafted.
Mixon mentioned that the Bengals plan to have a support system for him including coming up with some things for him to work on in the community in Cincinnati.
“Mostly with the younger kids around the community, whether an AAU team, football team, children’s hospital -- I like doing a lot of things like that,” the Bengals new running back said during the call, via ESPN. “I have a big family. Most people don’t get that talking to, or that person to be around them for advice, or anything like that. That’s what I’m going to do, just to change somebody’s life. You never know who’s going through it.”
Mixon admitted that his draft experience was a crazy one, which anyone who has followed his story can’t be surprised by. But, now, he can rest easy knowing he’s made it to the NFL.
“Everything was up in the air. I was blessed to come out as a Cincinnati Bengal. I can’t thank them enough,” Mixon said. “It was very emotional, especially getting picked. I just looked at the TV and they said my name and I just broke down and started crying. And my family came over and said congratulations. It was the best feeling in the world, and I wouldn’t trade it with anything.”
Mixon said he did have an idea that the Bengals were interested in him, which makes sense as Bengals.com reported Mixon spent nearly a week with running backs coach Kyle Caskey leading up to the draft, both in Oklahoma and Cincinnati.
“Honestly I had a good idea about it, but I wasn’t too sure, especially when they switched out with Minnesota. I wasn’t sure. But at the end of the day they picked me up and we rocking, we’re riding.”
Mixon spoke to his 2014 assault case and how it’s impacted him as a person.
“It changed me a lot as a person, the way you think, the way you carry yourself, go about things,” Mixon said. “The way Oklahoma helped me, I can’t thank them enough, either. I’m going to continue to keep doing the right thing around the community, on and off the field. And I’m going to prove to them why they kept me. Leaving from Oklahoma, I still have their name. At the end of the day, I’m going to do whatever I can to make them proud and make them happy. I’m looking forward to doing that with the Cincinnati Bengals as well.”
Mixon watched the draft with his family and had an emotional night as his name was called.
“I’m just looking forward to being the best teammate and best person around the Cincinnati Bengals community and organization,” he said.