Joe Mackey is an IFBB Pro bodybuilder from Texas who built his name on two things at once: a big, dense Men’s Open physique and deadlift strength few bodybuilders have ever matched. 💪
He turned pro in 2016, spent years grinding through the pro ranks, and peaked on stage with a fourth-place finish at the 2022 Tampa Pro.
Since then, the story has shifted from contest placings to pure strength — including a 910-pound deadlift that made headlines across the fitness world.
Joe Mackey Quick Facts
| Full name | Joseph Mackey |
| Born | 1985, Texas, USA (year as reported; exact date of birth not published) |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (as listed) |
| Division | Men’s Open Bodybuilding |
| Turned pro | 2016, with 2nd place in the super-heavyweight class at NPC Nationals |
| Pro debut | 2017 Ferrigno Legacy Pro — 9th |
| Best pro result | 4th, 2022 Tampa Pro |
| Pro wins | None yet |
| Mr. Olympia appearances | None yet |
| Best-known lift | 910 lb deadlift, Iron Wars VII, January 2023 |
| Coaching | Online coach and trainer; has worked with Milos Sarcev |
Early Life in Texas
Joe Mackey grew up in Mesquite, Texas, and went to West Mesquite High School. 🏫
He later spent two years at Angelo State University, where his interest in fitness really took hold.
After college he went back home, qualified as a personal trainer, and worked his way up to regional manager in the fitness industry.
By his own account, he tried his first bodybuilding contest and hated it — but the stage kept pulling him back.
He has spoken openly about a painful chapter in his personal life: his baby son, born with a serious heart condition, needed open-heart surgery the day after he was born and sadly passed away at ten months old.
Months later, Mackey returned to competing — and says that loss still drives him. ❤️
Amateur Career and Turning Pro
Mackey’s amateur run began at the 2012 North American Championships, where he placed 11th in the super-heavyweight class.
He kept climbing the NPC ladder, finishing second at the 2013 Ronnie Coleman Classic and winning the same show outright in 2015.
The breakthrough came at the 2016 NPC Nationals, where second place in the super-heavyweight division earned him his IFBB pro card. 🏆
That one result changed everything — it moved him from the amateur circuit into the professional Men’s Open division.
Pro Career: The Long Grind
Mackey made his pro debut at the 2017 Ferrigno Legacy Pro and finished ninth in the Men’s Open division.
The next few seasons were a lesson in patience. He competed at the 2018 Indy Pro without cracking the top ten, then took 11th at the 2019 New York Pro.
Progress came in 2020, when he finished eighth at the Tampa Pro — his best result at that point.
A 12th-place finish at the 2021 Chicago Pro followed, but Mackey kept improving, and 2022 became his best season on stage.
At the 2022 Tampa Pro he cracked the top five, finishing fourth behind winner Akim Williams, Kamal Elgargni, and Quinton Eriya.
A week later he took ninth at the 2022 Texas Pro, won by Andrew Jacked — a strong follow-up, but not the victory he needed to qualify for Mr. Olympia.
That Tampa fourth remains his career-best pro placing, and he has not yet won a pro show or stood on the Olympia stage.
For context on how deep the modern Men’s Open field is, see the refreshed profiles of Nick Walker and Samson Dauda, two of the division’s biggest names.
The Strongest Deadlifter in Bodybuilding? 🏋️
While his contest results were steady rather than spectacular, Mackey’s gym lifts became his calling card.
In April 2022 he pulled 900 pounds raw and dedicated the lift to the late Cedric McMillan.
He followed it with an 850-pound deadlift at C.T. Fletcher’s Iron Wars VI in May 2022 — while in contest prep and 15 pounds lighter than when he pulled 900.
Then, on January 13, 2023, he set a new personal best: a 910-pound deadlift at Iron Wars VII in Signal Hill, California.
Reporting at the time described it as unofficially the heaviest deadlift ever completed by an IFBB Pro bodybuilder.
There is no official bodybuilding deadlift record book, so that “strongest” label is best read as reported, not official — but the number itself is real and widely covered.
His strength run did not stop there: in March 2023 he posted five reps of a 990-pound hack squat, and later that year he pulled 800 pounds for four reps.
Training and Coaching
Mackey trains for size and strength together — a style fans often call “powerbuilding.” 💥
He has trained with veteran coach Milos Sarcev and around the Dragon’s Lair Gym scene, and he runs his own online coaching business.
His approach is simple on paper: heavy compound lifts, high volume on the physique work, and a clean, protein-rich diet in the off-season.
He has also built a business career outside the stage, described in a 2025 podcast appearance as CEO of Macky Innovations, a partner of Kabuki Strength.
That mix of athlete, coach, and entrepreneur is a big part of why fans still follow him even between contests.
Another refreshed pro profile worth a read is Charles Griffen, who came through the same era of the Men’s Open division.
What Is Joe Mackey Doing in 2025–2026?
Here is the honest answer: no pro bodybuilding contest result for Mackey has been found after the August 2022 Texas Pro.
His last widely reported competitive appearances are strength events in 2023, not physique contests.
No retirement announcement has been found either, so he should not be described as retired.
As of 2026, the accurate picture is an active IFBB Pro who has not competed on a pro bodybuilding stage since 2022 — and whose recent public profile is built on training, coaching, and strength feats.
If he announces a comeback show, that will be the next chapter worth watching. 👀
Joe Mackey Contest Record
| Year | Contest | Division | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | North American Championships | Men’s Super-Heavyweight | 11th |
| 2012 | NPC Nationals | Men’s Super-Heavyweight | 16th |
| 2013 | NPC Ronnie Coleman Classic | Men’s Super-Heavyweight | 2nd |
| 2013 | NPC Nationals | Men’s Super-Heavyweight | 8th |
| 2015 | NPC Ronnie Coleman Classic | Men’s Super-Heavyweight | 1st |
| 2015 | NPC Nationals | Men’s Super-Heavyweight | 6th |
| 2016 | NPC Nationals | Men’s Super-Heavyweight | 2nd — earned pro card |
| 2017 | IFBB Ferrigno Legacy Pro | Men’s Open | 9th |
| 2018 | IFBB Indy Pro | Men’s Open | Outside top 10 |
| 2019 | IFBB New York Pro | Men’s Open | 11th |
| 2020 | IFBB Tampa Pro | Men’s Open | 8th |
| 2021 | IFBB Chicago Pro | Men’s Open | 12th |
| 2022 | IFBB Tampa Pro | Men’s Open | 4th — career best |
| 2022 | IFBB Texas Pro | Men’s Open | 9th |
No Arnold Classic (Ohio or UK) appearance and no Mr. Olympia appearance were found in the sources checked for this refresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Joe Mackey ever won a pro bodybuilding show?
No. His amateur win came at the 2015 Ronnie Coleman Classic, but he has not yet won an IFBB Pro show.
His best pro finish is fourth at the 2022 Tampa Pro.
Has Joe Mackey competed at Mr. Olympia?
No. Olympia qualification requires a pro win (or, in past systems, enough points), and Mackey has not qualified.
His ninth place at the 2022 Texas Pro ended his bid for the 2022 Olympia.
What is Joe Mackey’s best result?
Fourth place at the 2022 Tampa Pro, behind Akim Williams, Kamal Elgargni, and Quinton Eriya.
How much can Joe Mackey deadlift?
His reported best is 910 pounds, pulled at Iron Wars VII on January 13, 2023.
It was widely described as unofficially the heaviest deadlift by an IFBB Pro, but there is no official record for it.
Is Joe Mackey still competing?
No pro bodybuilding contest result has been found for him since the August 2022 Texas Pro.
He has not announced a retirement, so he is best described as an active pro who has been away from the stage since 2022.
Where is Joe Mackey from?
Mesquite, Texas. He attended West Mesquite High School and spent two years at Angelo State University.
Bottom Line
Joe Mackey’s career is a story of persistence. He was never the overnight star of the Men’s Open division — he earned his pro card the hard way, ground through mid-pack pro finishes, and finally broke into the top five at Tampa in 2022. 🏆
What sets him apart is strength. A 910-pound deadlift from a Men’s Open bodybuilder is genuinely rare, and it is why his name still comes up whenever fans debate the strongest physique athletes ever.
A pro win and an Olympia debut remain the two boxes unchecked. Until a comeback is announced, his legacy is that of a respected pro, a coach, and one of the strongest deadlifters bodybuilding has ever seen.