Bullfighter Jesse Byrne Returns Home to PBR Canada Cup Series

AIRDRIE, Alta. – With the retirement of veteran bullfighter Ty Prescott, a new but familiar face will join the lineup of protection athletes in 2025.

Long-time PBR Unleash The Beast bullfighter Jesse Byrne will make his return to the PBR Canada Cup Series this season, joining Brett Monea and his brother, former PBR World Finals qualifying bull rider Tanner Byrne.

A quick YouTube search for Jesse Byrne’s greatest saves showcases his unmatched cat-like reflexes in the arena. In fact, he has his own highlight reel

But for the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native, now 39, the chance to once again fight bulls under the same flag that developed his career – and alongside his brother Tanner – was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

“I have always been proud to represent Canada on the international stage. I was able to do that for a long time. But I started in Canada,” Jesse Byrne said. “Jason [Davidson] has been a family friend for as long as I can remember. It’s been cool to have his support my whole career. The PBR in Canada is made up of a lot of family and close friends, and it has a unique dynamic that I am grateful for.”

“I’m happy to be able to come back and contribute to these events, to be part of all the fun,” Byrne added. “The Canadian PBR scene has been near and dear to me my whole life. It was never something I didn’t want to be part of, but with scheduling over the years, it just wasn’t an option. Getting to be around that whole crew again is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Byrne is no stranger to PBR Canada. He was selected to work the PBR Canada National Finals from 2007-2015, returning for another stint in 2018.

Having progressed in the sport alongside Monea, and literally grown up with his bull rider-turned-bullfighter brother Tanner, Byrne says the trio responsible for protecting cowboys inside the arena will be a well-oiled machine.

“I would say that both of them, Tanner and Brett, are legends in Canadian bull riding history. They will go down as some of the greatest to have been part of this sport,” Byrne said. 

At 6 foot 4 inches tall, Tanner was one of the tallest riders to reach the highest level of success at PBR, qualifying for the World Finals four times. He retired from bull riding in 2019 to pursue bullfighting full time.

Jesse, six years older than Tanner, isn’t as big. But anything he lacks in size he makes up with his heart.

He recognizes protecting the best riders in the world comes with a huge responsibility and more pressure.  Adding family to the mix creates a unique situation making doing the job well that much more important.  

Tanner, who has seen every facet of bull riding, has a true understanding of the entire game and what goes on inside that arena, Jesse says. Meantime, he also has a lot of respect for Monea who, “has spent years developing his talents, always staying true to who he is. He does his job every time and continues to expand on that year after year.”

This blending of experience and talents will produce a world-class team charged with protecting riders who are vulnerable to injury after dismounting their bulls – whether cleanly or slammed to the dirt.   

“For me, bullfighting has always been about teamwork,” Byrne explained. “That term gets thrown around loosely sometimes. You can have a lot of individuals who are there to make their own way, and that’s understandable, but Brett and Tanner are true team members. I’m looking forward to being part of that team in the arena. It takes confidence in your teammates to do the job to the best of your ability, and I have 100% confidence in them.”

At any PBR event, the job of a bullfighter is to step in and distract the bull just long enough for the rider to get away cleanly. They’re also responsible for getting anyone in the arena out of a dangerous situation.

But for Byrne, as much as fans might know him best for his courageous high-flying acrobatics to shield a fallen rider amid an unfolding wreck, preventing those moments from happening in the first place is the key to a successful night.

“A lot of people think we must be crazy to do a job like this—I hear that all the time,” Byrne said. “But for me, our job is to sort through the chaos, figure out what’s actually happening, and take a tactical approach to making it safe.”

“A lot of people love seeing a wreck where a bullfighter takes a hit. And yeah, sometimes that’s part of it. But for me, it’s always been about prevention. It’s easier to be part of a wreck than to prevent one. It’s always been about being smooth. I’ve lived by the fact that if things are going really well, you probably won’t notice us too much out there. Preventing things before they happen—that’s always been the goal for me.”