Markwayne Mullin’s Sons: Jim, Andrew, Jayce and Their Remarkable Stories

Senator Markwayne Mullin has three sons — Jim, Andrew, and Jayce — and each one has made headlines for reasons that have nothing to do with Washington politics. Jim nearly died from a traumatic brain injury sustained during a wrestling match in 2020, then fought his way back onto the mat at Oklahoma State University. Andrew landed in the Mayo Clinic in 2025 battling an undiagnosed illness that doctors are still working to identify. Jayce, the youngest son, earned his own spot on the Cowboy Wrestling roster alongside his older brother.

Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma and enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, has been unusually candid about all of it. He broke down in tears during a Senate HELP Committee hearing in July 2024 describing Jim’s recovery. Months later, he posted a raw Facebook video about Andrew from a hospital hallway at Mayo Clinic.

A father watching two sons face life-altering medical crises while serving in the United States Senate — that story cuts deeper than any legislative record.

Who Are Markwayne Mullin’s Sons?

Markwayne Mullin and his wife, Christie Mullin, have three sons: Jim (approximately 22 as of 2026), Andrew, and Jayce. All three grew up in northeastern Oklahoma near Westville, where the Mullin family has deep roots in the Cherokee Nation. Jim and Jayce both wrestle for Oklahoma State University. Andrew attended the University of Oklahoma before his health forced a different path.

The Mullin Family at a Glance

Mullin married Christie Renee Rowan, his high school sweetheart from Stilwell, Oklahoma, in 1997. Together they have six children — three sons and three daughters. The couple adopted twin girls, Ivy and Lynette, in August 2013. Christie has served as a youth ministry sponsor at Coweta Assembly of God Church and coached girls’ gymnastics.

The Mullin household operates on a foundation of faith and physical discipline. Markwayne attended Missouri Valley College on a wrestling scholarship before dropping out at 20 to take over the family plumbing business when his own father, Jim Martin Mullin, fell ill. He went on to compile a 5-0 professional MMA record and was inducted into the Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016. All three of his sons followed him onto the mat.

Jim Mullin — From Near-Fatal Brain Injury to Division I Wrestling

Jim Mullin, Markwayne’s eldest son, suffered a traumatic brain injury during a wrestling match in January 2020 at age 15. He lost his motor skills, developed severe short-term memory loss, and regressed from a high school learning level to the equivalent of a third grader. Five years later, he is on the 2024-25 Oklahoma State Cowboy Wrestling roster, competing for one of the most decorated Division I programs in the country.

The Injury That Changed Everything

The details are stark. During a wrestling practice in January 2020, Jim sustained a blow severe enough to leave him unable to walk normally, control his muscles, or perform basic daily tasks. Mullin described his son — once a “world-class athlete” — as suddenly unable to function independently. Doctors at the Centre for Neuro Skills in Bakersfield, California, estimated recovery would take two to three years.

Jim finished in nine months. He was discharged in October 2020 and returned home to Oklahoma, a timeline that stunned the specialists who treated him.

A Senator’s Tears on Capitol Hill

Mullin has spoken about Jim’s injury publicly on multiple occasions, most memorably during a Senate HELP Committee hearing on July 31, 2024. He choked up describing how then-President Trump called repeatedly during Jim’s rehabilitation to check on the family. The moment went viral — a senator known for a combative, no-nonsense persona visibly breaking down over his son’s brush with permanent disability.

That hearing produced action. Mullin co-led the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act, which passed the Senate HELP Committee and aims to fund critical research, treatment, and support programs for TBI patients nationwide. Jim’s story was the driving force behind the legislation.

Wrestling at Oklahoma State

Jim attended Bixby High School, where he excelled in both wrestling and powerlifting. After his recovery, he enrolled at Oklahoma State — the same university his father attended on a wrestling scholarship decades earlier. He spent 2023-24 as a redshirt and joined the active 2024-25 roster. Oklahoma State’s program has produced 34 NCAA team championships and more individual national champions than nearly any school in the country. Making that roster after what Jim went through is not a participation trophy. It is an achievement that carries genuine weight in the wrestling world.

In March 2025, the Mullin family attended the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships alongside President Trump — the first sitting president to attend the event. They cheered as Oklahoma State wrestlers Wyatt Hendrickson and Dean Hamiti Jr. won their matches.

Andrew Mullin — An Undiagnosed Illness and a Trip to Mayo Clinic

Andrew Mullin, Markwayne’s second son, has been hospitalized at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, since mid-2025 with an illness doctors have not yet been able to diagnose. His symptoms began in January 2025 during a practice session at the University of Oklahoma, when he experienced severe side pain that sent him to the emergency room. Scans revealed fluid in his lungs and several growth spots that appeared to worsen over subsequent examinations.

What Happened to Andrew

Cancer was ruled out — a relief, but not an answer. Andrew was eventually transferred to Mayo Clinic for more extensive testing. According to Fox News Digital, a Mullin spokesperson confirmed the senator traveled to Rochester to be at Andrew’s side during the testing process. Andrew underwent at least two medical procedures as part of the diagnostic workup.

Mullin posted an emotional video to Facebook from the hospital, telling constituents and supporters that the outpouring of prayers and messages “touches my heart.” A Senate press release followed, reinforcing the update. His spokesperson framed the senator’s priorities simply: “God, Family, and everybody else.”

Two Sons, Two Medical Crises

The Mullin family has now faced serious medical emergencies with two of their three sons. Jim’s traumatic brain injury in 2020 nearly ended his athletic career and threatened his ability to function independently. Andrew’s illness in 2025, while different in nature, forced the family back into the same agonizing uncertainty — waiting rooms, specialist consultations, and outcomes nobody could predict.

Mullin has not disclosed Andrew’s specific diagnosis, and no verified reporting has confirmed one. What is publicly known is that the condition was serious enough to warrant treatment at one of the most respected medical institutions in the world. The family has asked for continued prayers.

Jayce Mullin — The Other Cowboy Wrestler

Jayce Mullin, the youngest of Markwayne’s three sons, is also a member of the 2024-25 Oklahoma State Cowboy Wrestling team. He attended Bixby High School alongside Jim and was named a 6A All-Star by the Oklahoma Coaches Association during his senior year. Two brothers from the same family wrestling for Oklahoma State at the same time is uncommon even by the program’s standards.

Two brothers from the same political family wrestling at one of the most competitive programs in the country is unusual by any measure. Markwayne wrestled at Missouri Valley College on a scholarship before leaving to run the family business. Jim overcame a brain injury to earn a spot in Stillwater. Jayce earned his way in with an All-Star credential built at Bixby High School.

The eldest son is named after Markwayne’s father, Jim Martin Mullin, whose illness decades ago pulled a young Markwayne away from his own wrestling career. That through-line — sacrifice, resilience, competition — keeps showing up in the next generation.

How Fatherhood and Cherokee Heritage Shape Mullin’s Politics

Mullin’s identity as a senator is inseparable from his identity as a father of six. He is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, tracing his heritage through his maternal grandfather, and grew up on family land in Westville — squarely within Cherokee Nation sovereign territory. When he speaks about protecting Indigenous communities or funding rural Oklahoma health services, he is drawing from the same well that fed his response to Jim’s brain injury and Andrew’s hospitalization.

Legislation Born from Personal Experience

The Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act did not originate in a policy briefing. It came from watching a 15-year-old lose his ability to walk. Mullin has been explicit about that connection, telling the Senate HELP Committee that Jim’s injury made the issue personal in a way no briefing document ever could. The bill passed committee in July 2024 and aims to fund continued TBI research and patient support nationwide.

Mullin has also used his family’s adoption of twins Ivy and Lynette to advocate for the Indian Child Welfare Act, and he has pushed for increased appropriations to Indian Health Services and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. His official Senate biography frames family and Cherokee identity as the twin pillars of his public service — and the legislative record backs that up.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sons does Markwayne Mullin have?

Markwayne Mullin has three sons: Jim, Andrew, and Jayce. He and his wife, Christie Mullin, also have three daughters — Larra, Ivy, and Lynette. Ivy and Lynette are adopted twins who joined the family in August 2013. The family lives in northeastern Oklahoma near Westville.

What happened to Jim Mullin?

Jim Mullin suffered a traumatic brain injury during a wrestling match in January 2020 when he was 15 years old. He lost motor skills, experienced severe short-term memory loss, and regressed to a third-grade learning level. After nine months of rehabilitation at the Centre for Neuro Skills in Bakersfield, California — far shorter than the two to three years specialists predicted — he recovered and eventually joined the Oklahoma State University wrestling team.

Is Jim Mullin on the Oklahoma State wrestling team?

Yes. Jim Mullin is listed on the 2024-25 Oklahoma State Cowboy Wrestling roster. He spent the 2023-24 season as a redshirt after transferring to OSU. He attended Bixby High School, where he excelled in both wrestling and powerlifting, and is currently majoring in Agribusiness at Oklahoma State.

What illness does Andrew Mullin have?

Andrew Mullin’s illness has not been publicly diagnosed as of mid-2025. His symptoms began in January 2025 with severe side pain during a practice session at the University of Oklahoma. Doctors found fluid in his lungs and growth spots on imaging. Cancer has been ruled out. Andrew is currently undergoing testing at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Who is Markwayne Mullin’s wife?

Markwayne Mullin’s wife is Christie Renee Rowan Mullin. The two were high school sweethearts in Stilwell, Oklahoma, and married in 1997. Christie has served as a youth ministry sponsor at Coweta Assembly of God Church and as a girls’ gymnastics coach. They have been married for over 28 years.

Is Markwayne Mullin Cherokee?

Yes. Markwayne Mullin is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He traces his Cherokee heritage through his maternal grandfather. He grew up on family land in Westville, Oklahoma, which falls within Cherokee Nation sovereign territory. His tribal citizenship has shaped his legislative work on tribal sovereignty and Indian Health Services funding.

Does Jayce Mullin also wrestle at Oklahoma State?

Yes. Jayce Mullin, Markwayne’s youngest son, is on the 2024-25 Oklahoma State Cowboy Wrestling roster alongside his brother Jim. Jayce attended Bixby High School and was named a 6A All-Star by the Oklahoma Coaches Association as a senior.

What legislation has Mullin introduced because of his son’s brain injury?

After Jim’s traumatic brain injury, Mullin co-led the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act, which passed the Senate HELP Committee in July 2024. The bill reauthorizes federal grant programs that fund TBI research, treatment, and long-term support for patients and their families.

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