Bear Down BBQ: Arizona RB Ismail Mahdi becomes co-owner of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Tucson

Former Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi is now a co-owner of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit at 7077 N. Thornydale Road in Tucson. The location is one of three Dickey’s restaurants in the area, and its grand reopening date will be posted on the restaurant’s Instagram page.

Mahdi partnered with Manny Gomez, an assistant football coach at Cholla High School and owner of Integrity Auto Repair. The two also work together through Next Level Performance Lab, a Tucson football training program.

Mahdi said he had been interested in becoming an entrepreneur and saw the restaurant as a chance to build something for the local community. He hopes to bring some of the barbecue traditions he grew up around in Texas to Tucson, including brisket and loaded baked potatoes.

Dickey’s was founded in Dallas in 1941 and now has nearly 400 locations across the United States. Mahdi played his final college season at Arizona in 2025, leading the Wildcats in rushing with 859 yards and five all purpose touchdowns. He said his experience with Arizona’s Beyond Football program helped prepare him for business ownership.