Husker Alum Burkhead Announces Retirement

NEBRASKA – A Husker Football legend has announced his retirement from football.

Rex Burkhead, a former Nebraska running-back during the Bo Pelini era, announced via his social media that he intends to retire from football after his tenth season in the National Football league.

The veteran back had worked out for multiple teams over the past season, but failed to land a roster spot. The Plano, Tex. native was a sixth round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals back in 2013 following a standout collegiate career with the Big Red.

Burkhead was a fan-favorite since his arrival in Lincoln as a freshman. The workhorse back was a key-figure in the transition for Nebraska moving from the Big 12 Conference into the Big Ten. He ended sixth all-time in Husker Football history in rushing yards, ending with 3,329 yards with thirty scores in forty-four games.

In the NFL, Burkhead was a utility piece for the Bengals for four season before moving on to the New England Patriots, where he became a workhorse back. In 41 games with the team, Burkhead ran for 1,026 rushing yards and eleven touchdowns while receiving 96 passes for just over 850 yards and seven scores. Burkhead’s key moments came in the 2018 playoffs, as the Patriots upset the then up-start Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium before claiming the Super Bowl LIII title.

Burkhead wrapped his career in Houston with the Texans, signing in 2021 and finishing with over 500 rushing yards in his final two seasons.