{{Short description|American football player (born 1990)}} {{Use American English|date=March 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Rex Burkhead | image = Rex Burkhead.JPG | caption = Burkhead with the New England Patriots in 2017 | current_team = | number = 33, 34, 28 | position = Running back | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|7|2}} | birth_place = Winchester, Kentucky, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 10 | weight_lbs = 215 | high_school = Plano Senior (Plano, Texas) | college = Nebraska (2009–2012) | draftyear = 2013 | draftround = 6 | draftpick = 190 | pastteams = * Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2016}}) * New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2017}}–{{NFL Year|2020}}) * Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2021}}–{{NFL Year|2022}}) | status = | highlights = *Super Bowl champion (LIII) * First-team All-Big Ten (2011) | statleague = NFL | statweek = | statseason = | statlabel1 = Rushing yards | statvalue1 = 1,908 | statlabel2 = Rushing average | statvalue2 = 3.9 | statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns | statvalue3 = 17 | statlabel4 = Receptions | statvalue4 = 192 | statlabel5 = Receiving yards | statvalue5 = 1,534 | statlabel6 = Return yards | statvalue6 = 131 | statlabel7 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue7 = 9 | pfr = BurkRe00 }}
'''Rex Burkhead''' (born July 2, 1990) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft. After four seasons with the Bengals, Burkhead spent his next four seasons with the New England Patriots, where he appeared in consecutive Super Bowls and won Super Bowl LIII, the second of the two Super Bowls he appeared in. Burkhead signed with the Houston Texans in 2021 and spent the next two seasons with them. Burkhead spent the 2023 NFL season as an un-signed free agent and announced his retirement from professional football during the offseason of the 2024 season.
==Early life== Burkhead was born in Winchester, Kentucky, and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. He attended Plano Senior High School in Plano, Texas, where he played high school football for the Wildcats. Burkhead was on the varsity team for all four years of his high school career and even played in the division 5A basketball playoffs his senior year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wixon |first=Matt |date=February 2, 2018 |title=How former Plano star, Patriots RB Rex Burkhead is taking on children's cancer with his fame |url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/high-school/high-schools/2018/02/02/super-bowl-new-england-patriots-philadelphia-eagles-rex-brukhead |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=SportsDayHS |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> As a junior, he rushed for 1,762 yards and 28 touchdowns, leading the school to a state semifinal appearance in the Texas 5-A football playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Tim |date=December 1, 2009 |title='Superman' returns to Nebraska backfield |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/7645/superman-returns-to-nebraska-backfield |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Burkhead earned first-team all-district honors in basketball as a junior and senior, and as a freshman he was part of Class 5A state championship basketball team.
==College career==
As a freshman at the University of Nebraska in 2009, Burkhead played in nine games, rushing for 346 yards on 81 carries with three touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2009 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rex-burkhead-1/gamelog/2009/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref>
As a sophomore in 2010, Burkhead was second on the depth chart behind senior Roy Helu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2010 Nebraska Cornhuskers Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/nebraska/2010.html |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref> Burkhead played in all 14 games as the backup, and rushed for 951 yards on 172 carries and seven touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2010 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rex-burkhead-1/gamelog/2010/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref>
As a junior in 2011, Burkhead took over as the starting running back as a junior. Nebraska had little experience at running back that season, and Burkhead got the majority of the carries, including a school-record 38 carries against the Iowa Hawkeyes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2011 |title=Rex Burkhead sets Nebraska record for carries in win over Iowa |url=http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=313290158 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626171957/http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?id=313290158 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 26, 2013 |access-date=January 29, 2013 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He ended up rushing for 1,357 yards on 284 carries with 15 touchdowns and was named a first team All-Big Ten selection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rittenberg |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Rittenberg |date=November 29, 2011 |title=2011 All-Big Ten teams, individual awards |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/40066/2011-all-big-ten-teams-individual-awards |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2011 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rex-burkhead-1/gamelog/2011/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref>
As a senior in 2012, with expectations high, Burkhead sprained his knee in the season opener and missed two games before re-injuring the knee four games later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rittenberg |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Rittenberg |date=October 22, 2012 |title=Huskers' Burkhead day to day for injured knee |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8537803/nebraska-cornhuskers-rex-burkhead-day-day-injured-knee |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Burkhead missed six games total in the season, but still finished with five touchdowns and 675 yards on 98 carries for a 6.9 yard average.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christopherson |first=Brian |date=December 28, 2012 |title=Burkhead's Husker career down to one last game |url=http://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/football/2012/capital-one-bowl/burkhead-s-husker-career-down-to-one-last-game/article_ae651c32-bc7e-5639-9023-b54eaee3f039.html?comment_form=true |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=Lincoln Journal Star}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2012 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rex-burkhead-1/gamelog/2012/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rex-burkhead-1.html |access-date=February 18, 2024 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref> He was considered the ninth or tenth best running back prospect for the 2013 NFL draft and was ranked in the top 150 overall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead – RB – Nebraska – 2013 Draft Scout/NCAA College Football |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=89516&DraftYear=2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019024633/https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=89516&DraftYear=2013 |archive-date=October 19, 2022 |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=draftscout.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grubb |first=William |date=April 26, 2013 |title=2013 NFL Draft Profile: Rex Burkhead (RB) |url=https://www.cornnation.com/huskers-in-the-nfl/2013/4/26/4270090/nfl-draft-profile-rex-burkhead-rb |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=Corn Nation|publisher=SB Nation |language=en}}</ref>
Burkhead graduated from Nebraska in three-and-a-half years with a bachelor's degree in history. He earned repeated scholar-athlete awards throughout his career, including first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2011 and 2012, and recognition as one of 15 National Football Foundation Scholar Athletes in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengals 2014 Media Guide |url=http://prod.static.bengals.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/mediaguide14.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104040002/http://prod.static.bengals.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/mediaguide14.pdf |archive-date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=January 10, 2015 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{nfl predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 10+1/4 | weight = 214 | dash = 4.73 | ten split = 1.63 | twenty split = 2.73 | shuttle = 4.09 | cone drill = 6.85 | vertical = 39 | broad ft = 10 | broad in = 5 | bench = 21 | wonderlic = | arm span = 30+7/8 | hand span = 9+3/4 | note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=10168 |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=NFL Combine Results |language=en-US}}</ref> }}
===Cincinnati Bengals=== 352x352px|thumb|Burkhead in 2013 After being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round (190th overall) of the 2013 NFL draft, Burkhead signed with the team on May 13, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2013 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2013/draft.htm |access-date=February 7, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> He played in all four preseason games, rushing 28 times for 130 yards and a touchdown, and five receptions for 39 yards. However, plagued by a hamstring injury all season, Burkhead was active for only one of the team's 16 games, making his NFL debut on November 10 playing on special teams in a 20–17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens – November 10th, 2013 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201311100rav.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2013 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00/gamelog/2013/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
In 2014, Burkhead played in nine games for the Bengals, mainly on special teams. On offense, he had nine rushes for 27 yards and his first career touchdown (against the Cleveland Browns) and seven receptions for 49 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns – December 14th, 2014 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201412140cle.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> He had the most productive game of his career in the Bengals' Wild Card Round loss to the Indianapolis Colts, in which Burkhead started at wide receiver and totaled three receptions for 34 yards and one rush for 23 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card – Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts – January 4th, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201501040clt.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
Burkhead played in all 16 regular season games for the Bengals in 2015, seeing action primarily on special teams. As a running back, he rushed four times for four yards, while catching 10 passes for 94 yards and a receiving touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
In 2016, Burkhead appeared in all 16 regular season games for the Bengals, including one start at running back. With regular playing time on offense, he rushed 74 times for 344 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 17 passes for 145 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> In the Bengals' Week 17 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Burkhead carried the ball 27 times for 119 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals – January 1st, 2017 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201701010cin.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
===New England Patriots=== ====2017 season: Super Bowl LII appearance==== On March 14, 2017, Burkhead signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots worth up to $3.15 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 14, 2017 |title=Patriots sign unrestricted free agent RB Rex Burkhead |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-unrestricted-free-agent-rb-rex-burkhead-294776 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=Patriots.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wesseling |first=Chris |date=March 14, 2017 |title=Patriots add to backfield stable with Rex Burkhead |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/patriots-add-to-backfield-stable-with-rex-burkhead-0ap3000000793103 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>
On September 7, on ''Thursday Night Football'', Burkhead made his debut as a member of the Patriots. He was in the starting lineup and had three rushes for 15 yards and one reception for eight yards in the 42–27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots – September 7th, 2017 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201709070nwe.htm |access-date=September 24, 2017 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> On September 17, against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, he recorded his first touchdown as a member of the Patriots when he hauled in a 19-yard pass from quarterback Tom Brady in the first quarter of the 36–20 victory. He finished the game with three receptions for 41 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints – September 17th, 2017 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201709170nor.htm |access-date=October 28, 2017 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> On November 12, 2017, during Week 10 against the Denver Broncos, Burkhead had 10 rushes for 36 rushing yards, three receptions for 27 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown, and a blocked punt.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New England Patriots at Denver Broncos – November 12th, 2017 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201711120den.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> He thus became the first player to both catch a touchdown pass and block a punt in the same NFL game since 1977.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nett |first=Erica |date=November 14, 2017 |title=#ProBigRed: Huskers in the NFL – Week 10 |url=http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=211685198 |access-date=December 2, 2017 |website=huskers.com |publisher=University of Nebraska Cornhuskers Football |archive-date=December 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202203106/http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=211685198 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Burkhead finished his first season with the Patriots with 64 carries for 264 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns and recorded 30 catches for 254 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> In the playoffs, the Patriots defeated the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round without Burkhead, but Burkhead returned for the AFC Championship Game where he recorded one carry for five yards in the 24–20 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars to reach Super Bowl LII. The Patriots lost 41–33 to the Philadelphia Eagles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship – Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots – January 21st, 2018 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201801210nwe.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> Burkhead recorded three carries for 18 yards and caught a pass for 46 yards in the Super Bowl.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LII – Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots – February 4th, 2018 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201802040nwe.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
====2018 season: Super Bowl LIII championship==== On March 14, 2018, Burkhead signed a three-year contract extension with the Patriots.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patra |first=Kevin |date=March 14, 2018 |title=Patriots keep RB Rex Burkhead with three-year deal |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000921311/article/patriots-keep-rb-rex-burkhead-with-multiyear-deal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927005552/https://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000921311/article/patriots-keep-rb-rex-burkhead-with-multiyear-deal |archive-date=September 27, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> In Week 3 against the Detroit Lions, Burkhead suffered a neck injury and was placed on injured reserve on September 26, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2018 |title=Patriots Place RB Rex Burkhead and LB Ja'Whaun Bentley on Injured Reserve; Announce Additional Roster Moves |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-place-rb-rex-burkhead-and-lb-ja-whaun-bentley-on-injured-reserve-announ |access-date=September 28, 2020 |website=Patriots.com}}</ref> He was activated off injured reserve on November 26, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 26, 2018 |title=Patriots Activate RB Rex Burkhead to 53-Man Roster; Release OL Matt Tobin |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-activate-rb-rex-burkhead-to-53-man-roster-release-ol-matt-tobin |access-date=September 28, 2020 |website=Patriots.com}}</ref> The Patriots won the AFC East and earned the #2-seed for the AFC Playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2018 New England Patriots Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/2018.htm |access-date=February 7, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
On January 13, 2019, Burkhead scored his first-ever postseason touchdown in the Divisional Round with a six-yard run against the Los Angeles Chargers in a game New England won 41–28. A week later, he scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime as part of the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2019 |title=Patriots vs. Chiefs – Play by Play |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/playbyplay?gameId=401038850 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> The Patriots won the coin toss, which eventually set up the offense with a 1st and 10 at the Kansas City 15-yard line. Burkhead ran up the middle for 10 yards and another three yards on the next play setting up 1st and Goal. Burkhead ran again up the middle for a two-yard touchdown, sending the Patriots to Super Bowl LIII. Before his overtime touchdown, Burkhead had previously scored a rushing touchdown with 39 seconds left to give the Patriots a 31–28 lead, though the Chiefs responded with a 39-yard field goal to force overtime. Burkhead finished the game with 12 carries for 41 yards and two touchdowns and had the game's longest run from scrimmage (14 yards). He also had four receptions for 28 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2019 |title=Patriots make 3rd straight Super Bowl, beat Chiefs 37–31 OT |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401038850 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
During the Super Bowl, Burkhead finished with 43 rushing yards, had the longest rushing play of the game (26 yards, tied with Sony Michel), and led all running backs from both teams with a 6.1 yards-per-carry average, as the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams by a score of 13–3 in the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wesseling |first=Chris |date=February 3, 2019 |title=Patriots defeat Rams 13–3 in Super Bowl LIII |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/patriots-defeat-rams-13-3-in-super-bowl-liii-0ap3000001016157 |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In New England's three playoff games, Burkhead totaled seven receptions on seven targets for 45 yards and registered one tackle on special teams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=February 6, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference}}</ref>
====2019 season==== In the 2019 season, Burkhead finished with 302 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with 27 receptions for 279 receiving yards in 13 games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=January 11, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
====2020 season==== In Week 3 of the 2020 season, Burkhead recorded 98 scrimmage yards to go along with two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in the 36–20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots – September 27th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202009270nwe.htm |access-date=September 28, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> In Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens on ''Sunday Night Football'', Burkhead had two receiving touchdowns, including one thrown by wide receiver Jakobi Meyers on a trick play, during the 23–17 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots – November 15th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202011150nwe.htm |access-date=November 20, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> On November 22, 2020, Burkhead suffered a season-ending knee injury in a 27–20 loss to the Houston Texans.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kyed |first=Doug |date=November 24, 2020 |title=Patriots' Rex Burkhead Confirms Season-Ending Injury Diagnosis in Tweet |url=https://nesn.com/2020/11/patriots-rex-burkhead-confirms-season-ending-injury-diagnosis-in-tweet/ |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=NESN.com}}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve on November 28, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2020 |title=Patriots Announce A Series of Roster Moves |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-announce-a-series-of-roster-moves-x6686 |access-date=October 18, 2022 |website=Patriots.com}}</ref> He finished the 2020 season with 67 carries for 274 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with 25 receptions for 192 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2020 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00/gamelog/2020/ |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
=== Houston Texans === On June 1, 2021, Burkhead signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Houston Texans that included a $125K signing bonus.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2021 |title=Texans' Rex Burkhead: Signing with Texans |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/texans-rex-burkhead-signing-with-texans/ |access-date=June 1, 2021 |website=CBSSports.com}}</ref> In Week 16, against the Los Angeles Chargers, Burkhead finished the game with a career high 149 rushing yards along with two touchdowns in the 41–29 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barshop |first=Sarah |date=December 27, 2021 |title=Rex Burkhead, Houston Texans' running game break through to aid rookie QB Davis Mills |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/houston-texans/post/_/id/26140/rex-burkhead-houston-texans-running-game-breaks-through-to-aid-rookie-qb-davis-mills |access-date=December 27, 2021 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> For his performance, Burkhead was named the FedEx Ground Player of the Week.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kubena |first=Brooks |date=December 29, 2021 |title=Texans' Rex Burkhead named FedEx Ground player of the week |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/texans/article/Texans-Rex-Burkhead-FedEx-player-of-week-16737060.php |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Houston Chronicle}}</ref> Overall, in the 2021 season, Burkhead finished with 122 carries for 427 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 25 receptions for 186 yards in 16 games and five starts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
On January 7, 2022, Burkhead signed a contract extension with the Texans through the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barshop |first=Sarah |date=January 7, 2022 |title=Sources – Houston Texans sign RB Rex Burkhead to contract extension through 2022 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33014305/sources-houston-texans-sign-rb-rex-burkhead-contract-extension-2022 |access-date=January 16, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> He finished the season with 26 carries for 86 yards to go along with 37 receptions for 204 yards and a touchdown in 16 games and no starts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rex Burkhead 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=February 18, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
=== Retirement === On February 5, 2024, Burkhead announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons after sitting out the entire 2023 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCarriston |first=Shanna |date=February 5, 2024 |title=Rex Burkhead, who won a Super Bowl with Patriots, announces NFL retirement at age 33 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/rex-burkhead-who-won-a-super-bowl-with-patriots-announces-nfl-retirement-at-age-33/#:~:text=On%20Monday%2C%20running%20back%20Rex,%2C%20teammates%2C%20coaches%20and%20trainers. |access-date=February 5, 2024 |work=CBS Sports |location=New York City}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
===NFL=== {| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" ! colspan="2"|Legend |- | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"| | Won the Super Bowl |- | '''Bold''' | Career high |}
==== Regular season ==== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! Lost |- ! 2013 || CIN | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2014 || CIN | 9 || 0 || 9 || 27 || 3.0 || 10 || 1 || 7 || 49 || 7.0 || 15 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2015 || CIN | '''16''' || 0 || 4 || 4 || 2.0 || 2 || 0 || 10 || 94 || 9.4 || 27 || 1 || 1 || '''1''' |- ! 2016 || CIN | '''16''' || 1 || 74 || 344 || 4.6 || 17 || 2 || 17 || 145 || 8.5 || 18 || 0 || 1 || '''1''' |- ! 2017 || NE | 10 || 3 || 64 || 264 || 4.1 || 31 || '''5''' || 30 || 254 || 8.5 || 23 || '''3''' || 1 || 0 |- ! 2018 || style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|NE | 8 || 4 || 57 || 186 || 3.3 || 12 || 0 || 14 || 131 || 9.4 || 25 || 1 || '''2''' || '''1''' |- ! 2019 || NE | 13 || 1 || 65 || 302 || '''4.7''' || 33 || 3 || 27 ||'''279'''||'''10.3'''||'''32'''|| 0 || 1 || '''1''' |- ! 2020 || NE | 10 || 0 || 67 || 274 || 4.1 || 18 || 3 || 25 || 192 || 7.7 || 24 || '''3''' || 0 || 0 |- ! 2021 !! HOU | '''16''' || '''5''' || '''122''' || '''427''' || 3.5 || '''36''' || 3 || 25 || 186 || 7.4 || 20 || 0 || 1 || 0 |- ! 2022 !! HOU | '''16''' || 0 || 26 || 80 || 3.1 || 9 || 0 || '''37''' || 204 || 5.5 || 17 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00.htm Career] || 115 || 14 || 488 || 1,908 || 3.9 || 36 || 17 || 192 || 1,534 || 8.0 || 32 || 9 || 7 || 4 |}
==== Postseason ==== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! Lost |- ! 2014 || CIN | 1 || '''1''' || 1 || 23 || '''23.0''' || 23 || 0 || 3 || 34 || 11.3 || 26 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2015 || CIN | 1 || 0 || 1 || 4 || 4.0 || 4 || 0 || 1 || 5 || 5.0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2017 || NE | 2 || 0 || 4 || 23 || 5.8 || 9 || 0 || 1 || '''46''' || '''46.0''' || '''46''' || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2018 || style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|NE | '''3''' || '''1''' || '''23''' || '''96''' || 4.2 || '''26''' || '''3''' || '''7''' || 45 || 6.4 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2019 || NE | 1 || 0 || 3 || 4 || 1.3 || 4 || 0 || 3 || 32 || 10.7 || 12 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkRe00/gamelog/post/ Career] || 8 || 2 || 32 || 150 || 4.7 || 26 || 3 || 15 || 162 || 10.8 || 46 || 0 || 0 || 0 |}
===College=== {|class=wikitable style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan="2"| Season ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving |- ! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD |- ! 2009 || Nebraska | 81 || 349 || 4.3 || 34 || 3 || 11 || 92 || 8.4 || 24 || 1 |- ! 2010 || Nebraska | 172 || 951 || 5.5 || 33 || 7 || 15 || 148 || 9.9 || 31 || 0 |- ! 2011 || Nebraska | 284 || 1,357 || 4.8 || 52 || 15 || 21 || 177 || 8.4 || 30 || 2 |- ! 2012 || Nebraska | 98 || 675 || 6.9 || 73 || 5 || 11 || 92 || 8.4 || 25 || 2 |- ! colspan="2"|[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rex-burkhead-1.html Career] !! 635 !! 3,329 !! 5.2 !! 73 !! 30 !! 60 !! 507 !! 8.5 !! 31 !! 5 |}
==Personal life== Burkhead is married to Danielle Burkhead. They have two sons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alvarez |first=Robert |date=May 6, 2020 |title=PHOTOS: Rex Burkhead's Family Celebrates Birth Of Second Son |url=https://www.patsfans.com/patriots/blog/2020/05/06/photos-rex-burkheads-family-celebrates-birth-of-second-son/amp/%3Famp_js_v=0.1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%253D%253D/ |access-date=November 5, 2021}}</ref>
Burkhead was the 2012 winner of the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion award. He was awarded for his work with a 6-year-old suffering from a rare pediatric brain tumor called a low-grade glioma.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 Rare Disease Champion Finalist: Rex Burkhead – Nebraska |url=http://www.upliftingathletes.org/take-action/rare-disease-champion/rex_burkhead |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022043715/http://www.upliftingathletes.org/take-action/rare-disease-champion/rex_burkhead |archive-date=October 22, 2014 |access-date=January 4, 2015 |website=www.upliftingatheletes.org}}</ref> Burkhead's commitment to community service has been personified by his friendship with that child, Jack Hoffman, a cancer patient from Atkinson, Nebraska. Jack contacted Nebraska in 2011, asking for a Burkhead photo. Burkhead offered to meet Jack, and his involvement in their relationship led to national notice when he arranged for Jack to suit up in a Cornhusker uniform and "run for a touchdown" in the 2013 Nebraska spring football game before a crowd of more than 60,000. President Barack Obama responded by inviting Jack and his family to the White House, and the family included Burkhead in its party.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2013 |title=Obama meets Jack Hoffman, young cancer patient who won hearts in Nebraska football game |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-meets-jack-hoffman-young-cancer-patient-who-won-hearts-in-nebraska-football-game/ |access-date=March 1, 2019 |website=CBS News |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In honor of Jack Hoffman, who died at age 19 in January 2025,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sherman |first1=Mitch |date=February 2025 |title=Jack Hoffman, who captured hearts around Nebraska football, dies of brain cancer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6065118/2025/01/15/jack-hoffman-nebraska-college-football/ |access-date=February 9, 2026 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Burkhead launched the Team Jack Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2017 |title=Rex Burkhead |url=https://www.teamjackfoundation.org/rex-burkhead |access-date=March 1, 2019 |website=Team Jack Foundation – Funding Research for Pediatric Brain Cancer |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Portal|Biography|College football}} * {{Footballstats |nfl=rex-burkhead|yahoo=26813|pfr=B/BurkRe00|espn=15971}} * [http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=3662131 Nebraska Cornhuskers bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620084938/http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=3662131 |date=June 20, 2013 }} *{{commons category-inline}}
{{Cincinnati Bengals 2013 draft navbox}} {{Super Bowl LIII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burkhead, Rex}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Kentucky Category:American football running backs Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football players Category:Cincinnati Bengals players Category:New England Patriots players Category:Houston Texans players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:People from Winchester, Kentucky