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.
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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