Joe Mixon has spent years in the spotlight as a professional football player, but behind his NFL career is a mother who has remained one of the most important people in his life.
Mixon’s mother is Alise Smith, formerly known as Alise Mixon. She raised six children and faced the difficult responsibilities that came with being a single mother after her marriage to Joe’s father, John Mixon, ended.
For Joe, his mother’s support has been especially important through both the best and most difficult moments of his life. She was there during his childhood, followed his football journey and traveled across the country to support him when his professional career finally reached the NFL.
Alise has generally kept her own life private. There is limited public information about her career and personal interests, but the details that are known show a mother who has remained closely connected to her family.
Who Is Joe Mixon’s Mother?
Joe Mixon’s mother is Alise Smith.
She was born on January 14, 1968, according to the supplied biographical details. Alise spent much of her life focused on raising her children and supporting her family.
She became the mother of six children with John Mixon. After their marriage ended, Alise took responsibility for raising the children.
That was not an easy task.
Being a single parent while raising six children requires considerable time, patience and sacrifice. Alise managed those responsibilities while helping her children grow up and pursue their own paths.
Joe has often expressed appreciation for the role his mother played in his life.
Alise Smith Raised Six Children
One of the defining parts of Alise’s story is her experience raising six children.
After her marriage to John Mixon ended, she became responsible for caring for the family.
For Joe, having a mother who remained present during difficult years was an important part of his development.
The family lived in California, and Alise’s home base in Oakley became closely connected with Joe’s early life.
While much of the public conversation surrounding Joe focuses on football, the story of his upbringing offers a different perspective.
His success did not happen in isolation. Like many professional athletes, he had family members who supported him long before he became famous.
For Joe, his mother was one of those people.
Joe Mixon and His Mother’s Relationship
Joe has maintained a strong relationship with his mother throughout his career.
Alise supported him during his younger years and continued to be present as his football ambitions became more serious.
One memorable example came when Joe entered the NFL.
Alise traveled from California to watch her son make his professional debut. Her decision to be there showed how important the moment was to her as a mother.
She had watched his journey from much earlier in his life, so seeing him finally reach professional football was a major family milestone.
For Joe, having his mother in the stands made the occasion even more meaningful.
Alise Supported Joe Through Difficult Times
Like many families, the Mixon family experienced difficult moments.
Joe faced serious controversy during his college years following an assault incident involving Amelia Molitor in Norman, Oklahoma, in 2014.
Mixon later apologized for his actions and acknowledged the harm caused. He also expressed regret for disappointing his mother and siblings.
According to the supplied details, Alise watched the video of the incident with Joe and police in the days following the event.
Her involvement was not presented as approval of what happened. Instead, she made clear that she did not support his behavior.
Alise later said that Joe had grown significantly since the incident.
Her position reflected the difficult role parents can face when their children make serious mistakes. Supporting a child does not necessarily mean approving everything that child has done.
Joe Apologized to His Mother
The controversy remained an important part of Joe’s early adult life.
In December 2016, he publicly expressed regret and acknowledged that he had let his mother and siblings down.
He also said that striking a woman in retaliation was not acceptable.
For Alise, seeing her son deal with the consequences of his actions would have been difficult.
Yet her support continued.
The story of their relationship therefore includes more than football victories and professional achievements. It also includes moments when Joe had to accept responsibility and learn from his mistakes.
Alise Was There for Joe’s NFL Debut
One of the more personal moments in Joe’s early NFL career happened before a preseason game in 2017.
Alise surprised her son by being there when he was preparing to run onto the field.
She had traveled from Oakley, California, because she did not want to miss his NFL debut.
For a mother who had raised six children and supported Joe throughout his development, the moment carried obvious significance.
Joe had worked for years to reach professional football, and suddenly his mother was there to see the result.
Her appearance was reportedly a surprise to Joe, making the moment even more memorable.
Joe Mixon’s Father and Alise’s Marriage
Alise was previously married to John Mixon, Joe’s father.
The couple had six children together before eventually divorcing.
After the divorce, Alise became the primary figure responsible for raising the children.
Later, she married Ruddie Smith on July 30, 2016.
The family details surrounding Alise have remained relatively private, particularly compared with the amount of attention directed toward her son.
Joe himself has generally kept information about his parents and family away from the public spotlight.
Alise Smith’s Private Life
Despite being the mother of a well-known NFL player, Alise has largely remained out of the celebrity spotlight.
There is limited information available about her professional career, daily life and personal interests.
The supplied information states that she is not particularly active on social media, which may explain why fans do not often see personal updates about her.
That privacy is quite different from the modern celebrity culture surrounding professional athletes.
While some players’ families become public figures themselves, Alise has largely allowed Joe’s career to remain the main focus.
Joe Mixon’s California Roots
Joe Mixon was born in Antioch, California, on July 24, 1996.
His early life was shaped by his family and his development as an athlete.
Eventually, his football ability took him to the University of Oklahoma, where he became one of the most closely watched running backs in college football.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected him with the 48th overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
His journey from California to college football and eventually the NFL was a major achievement.
For Alise, watching that progression meant seeing one of her children reach a level of professional success that had once seemed far away.
From College Football to the NFL
Before becoming a professional, Joe built a strong reputation at Oklahoma.
NFL scouts viewed him as a talented running back, and his combination of size, speed and versatility attracted considerable attention.
The Bengals ultimately selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
His professional career then gave Alise more opportunities to watch her son play on the biggest stage.
The NFL schedule can make it difficult for families to attend every game, but her appearance for his early professional milestone showed how willing she was to make the journey when it mattered.
A Mother Who Stayed Beside Her Son
Alise’s story is ultimately one of family support.
She raised six children, managed the responsibilities of single motherhood and continued supporting Joe as his football career developed.
She also remained beside him during difficult periods.
Her support did not mean ignoring his mistakes. In fact, her comments about the 2014 incident showed that she did not approve of his behavior.
At the same time, she believed her son could learn, mature and become a better person.
That combination of honesty and support is an important part of the story between Joe and his mother.
What We Know About Joe Mixon’s Mother
Alise Smith has remained a private person despite her son’s NFL fame.
She was born in January 1968 and is the mother of six children. She was previously married to John Mixon and later married Ruddie Smith in 2016.
Her biggest public connection is her role as Joe Mixon’s mother.
She supported him from his early years, remained present during difficult periods and traveled from California to watch him begin his NFL career.
While there are not many public details about her own professional life, her importance to Joe’s story is clear.
The Bottom Line
Joe Mixon’s mother, Alise Smith, has played a major role in the football player’s life.
She raised six children and faced the challenges of single motherhood after her marriage to John Mixon ended. Throughout Joe’s development, she remained a source of support.
She was also there during some of the most difficult moments of his early adulthood, including the controversy surrounding his college years. Alise did not excuse his behavior, but she continued to believe that her son could grow from the experience.
When Joe reached the NFL, she traveled from California to watch him make his professional debut, creating a memorable family moment.
Joe’s career has brought him fame, but his story also reflects the influence of the family members who supported him long before the NFL spotlight arrived.
For Joe Mixon, Alise Smith is not simply his mother. She is one of the people who helped him through childhood, challenges and the long journey toward professional football.