Plano football legend Rex Burkhead announces retirement from NFL

 

By Matt Welch | Star Local Media

Feb 6, 2024

Plano Senior alum Rex Burkhead, a 10-year NFL veteran, was a star on both the football field and basketball court for the Wildcats.

File Photo

After 10 seasons in the NFL, Plano alum Rex Burkhead announced his retirement from the league on Monday.

Burkhead's decade-long career included stints with the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots and Houston Texans. He was a sixth-round draft pick by the Bengals in 2013.

"To all my coaches, strength coaches, trainers, doctors, ownership and other staff, thank you for the opportunities to live out my childhood dream and making sure I was performing to the best of my abilities," Burkhead said in a statement on social media. "It was a privilege to go to work every day with you all."

Burkhead totaled 1,908 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns, as well as 1,534 receiving yards and nine receiving scores.

The running back appeared in two consecutive Super Bowls during his four-year run with the Patriots, including in a 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams in 2019.

Among the rusher's career highlights was a two-touchdown performance that same season in New England's 37-31 overtime win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.

Prior to suiting up in the NFL, Burkhead authored a prolific high school career at Plano. Burkhead was an all-state rusher during his junior and senior campaigns, helping lead the Wildcats' football team to a Class 5A Division I state semifinals in 2007.

During the 2007-08 seasons, Burkhead totaled 3,530 rushing yards and 57 touchdowns.

Burkhead was a two-sport athlete during his Plano days, also playing for the Wildcats' boys basketball team. He was part of Plano's 5A state title team in 2006 and earned all-district honors as a junior and senior.

The Plano alum has also been instrumental in raising awareness for pediatric brain cancer through his work with the Team Jack Foundation, of which he is a board member. In 2012, while still in college at Nebraska, Burkhead was named the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion.

"I'd like to thank all my friends, fans and other family who cheered me on throughout my career," Burkhead said. "From the days as a Plano Wildcat, Husker, Bengal, Patriot and Texan, you all have encouraged me every single day and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart."

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