Rex Burkhead

Rex Burkhead was re-signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 15, 2018 ... Originally drafted by Cincinnati in the sixth round (190th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft ... Signed by New England as an unrestricted free agent from Cincinnati (3/14/17).

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CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Rex Burkhead was re-signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 15, 2018 ... Originally drafted by Cincinnati in the sixth round (190th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft ... Signed by New England as an unrestricted free agent from Cincinnati (3/14/17).

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2020 (10/0)

• Played as a reserve in the season-opening victory over Miami (9/13), rushing seven times for 32 yards.
• Appeared in a reserve role, making four catches on six targets for 47 yards receiving, while carrying the ball 6 times for 2 yards at Seattle (9/20).
• Set a career high with three total touchdowns by way of two rushing scores and one receiving. It is the fourth time that he has scored multiple touchdowns in a single game and the second time he had a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown in a game. He is the first Patriots player to score three touchdowns in a game since Sony Michel had three rushing touchdowns at the New York Jets on Oct. 21, 2020. Was the first Patriot to rush for two touchdowns and catch another since November 23, 1975 when Sam Cunningham accomplished the feat in a 54-31 loss at Buffalo. In total, ran for 49 yards and racked up 49 more through the air in a win vs. Las Vegas (9/27).
• Appeared as a reserve at running back in a Week 4 loss at Kansas City (10/5), rushed for 45 yards on 11 carries, including an 18-yard run that helped set up a Nick Folk 43-yard field goal in the second quarter. Also added on catch out of the backfield.
• Carried the ball five time for 14 yards in a Week 6 loss vs. Denver (10/18).
• Carried the ball four time for 12 yards in a Week 7 loss vs. San Francisco (10/25). Added 35 yards receiving out of the backfield highlighted by a 17 yard catch and run late in the fourth quarter.
• Carried the ball six time for 26 yards in a Week 8 loss at Buffalo (11/1). Fought for a 10-yard gain on 3rd and 10 and on the following play Damien Harris scored on a 22-yard run and tied the game 14-14 in the third quarter following a two-point conversion.
• Scored on a one yard touchdown as part of a Week 9 win at the Jets (11/9). Added 11 yards receiving and 56 yards rushing.
• Caught two touchdown passes and ran for 31 yards on six carries in a week 10 win vs. Baltimore (11/15). His first TD came on a short dump off pass from Cam Newton for seven yards and a diving score that tied the game 7-7 in the second quarter. Later in the quarter Burkhead hauled in a 24 yard pass from Jakobi Meyers to take the lead. It was his first career game with two receiving TDs. He had a career-high of three touchdowns (1 receiving and 2 rushing) vs. Las Vegas on Sept. 27. Overall, it was his fifth NFL game with at least two touchdowns. He is the first Patriot to catch two touchdowns in the same game from two different players since the 2014 divisional matchup vs. Baltimore when Danny Amendola caught scores from both Tom Brady and Julian Edelman.
• Racked up seven yards on four carries and five yards on two receptions before getting injured in the third quarter of a Week 1 loss at Houston (11/22). He did not return.
• Was placed on IR prior to Week 12. Is not expected to return.

2019 (13/1, 1/0)

• Played in 13 regular-season games with one start and posted 65 rushing attempts for 302 yards and three touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 279 yards. Also a key contributor on special teams, making five tackles.
• Totaled six offensive touches including three carries for four yards and three receptions for 32 yards in the AFC Wild Card loss vs. Tennessee (1/4). Also recorded a special teams tackle in the game.
• Was inactive in wins at Washington (10/6), vs. N.Y. Giants (10/10) and at N.Y. Jets (10/21) due to injury.
• Was a key contributor on offense with five rushes for 21 yards while adding two catches for 47 yards, including a career-long 32-yard reception in the fourth quarter of the win at Miami (9/15).
• Started at running back and contributed with 11 carries for 47 yards and a touchdown while also adding six receptions for 22 yards in the win vs. N.Y. Jets (9/22).
• Rushed five times for 14 yards and added two receptions for 34 yards in the win at Philadelphia (11/17). Recorded a game-long 30-yard reception on a screen pass that moved the Patriots into Eagles territory and set up WR Julian Edelman's game-winning touchdown pass to WR Phillip Dorsett II.
• Lined up at punt returner for the first time in his career vs. Dallas (11/24).
• Rushed six times for 53 yards including a career-long 33-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter in the win at Cincinnati (12/15). Also caught two passes for six yards in the win.
• Was a key contributor on offense with five rushes for 20 yards and the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of the win vs. Buffalo (12/21). Also caught four passes for a career-high 77 receiving yards in the game, including a 31-yard reception in the third quarter.

2018 (8/4, 3/1)

• Played in eight regular-season games with four starts and totaled 57 rushing attempts for 186 yards (3.3 avg.) and 14 receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown. Added two special teams tackles.
• Appeared in all three postseason contests with one start and posted 23 rushing attempts for 96 yards (4.2 avg) and three touchdowns and seven receptions for 45 yards. Also made one special teams tackle.
• Made the start at running back in the season-opening victory vs. Houston (9/9), finishing with a team-high 18 carries for 64 yards on the ground, while adding one reception for five yards.
• Started at running back and rushed six times for 22 yards, including a long of 12 yards, in the matchup at Jacksonville (9/16).
• Saw limited snaps on offense in a reserve role but finished with two catches for 26 yards in the game at Detroit (9/23).
• Was placed on Injured Reserve on Sept. 26.
• Was activated to the 53-man roster on Nov. 26.
• Returned to action after being activated to the 53-man roster from injured reserve earlier in the week and rushed seven times for 20 yards, while also adding two receptions for 21 yards in the win vs. Minnesota (12/2).
• Rushed four times for 2 yards and caught one ball for 3 yards in a reserve role at Miami (12/9).
• Started and rushed four times for 25 yards while adding three receptions for 18 yards at Pittsburgh (12/16). Also contributed on special teams with one tackle while also helping to down a punt at the 1-yard line with an acrobatic leap into the end zone to prevent a touchback in the second quarter.
• Started and rushed 13 times for 39 yards, while adding another four receptions for 40 yards to contribute to the victory vs. Buffalo (12/23).
• Scored his first touchdown of the season on his lone reception of the game as the result of an 18-yard touchdown strike from QB Tom Brady early in the second quarter of the win vs. the New York Jets (12/30). Also rushed five times for 14 yards and made one special teams tackle.
• Started at running back and contributed in limited offensive snaps in the AFC Divisional Playoff win vs. L.A. Chargers (1/13). Rushed four times for 12 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and added one reception for 7 yards.
• Contributed in a reserve role out of the backfield, making four catches for 23 yards and rushing 12 times for 41 yards, including a go-ahead touchdown run late in the fourth quarter and the game-winning touchdown drive in overtime of the AFC Championship victory at Kansas City (1/20).
• Rushed seven times for 43 yards, including a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter with under three minutes to play, that helped put the Patriots in field goal range where they ultimately were able to gain a two-score advantage late in the Super Bowl LIII victory vs. the Los Angeles Rams (2/3). Also added two receptions for 15 yards.

2017 (10/3, 2/0)

• Appeared in 10 regular-season games with three starts and registered 64 rushing attempts for 264 yards (4.1 avg.) and five rushing touchdowns and caught 30 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns. Also returned one kickoff for 17 yards, tallied four special teams tackles and blocked a punt.
• Played in two playoff games as a reserve and totaled four rushing attempts for 23 yards (5.8 avg.) and caught one pass for 46 yards.
• Was inactive for six regular-season contests and the AFC Divisional Playoff win vs. Tennessee (1/13) due to injury.
• Started at running back in the win at New Orleans (9/17) and caught three passes for 41 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown, while picking up 3 yards on two rushing attempts before leaving the game due to injury.
• Returned to action vs. Atlanta (10/22) after missing four games due to injury and rushed six times for 31 yards as part of a rushing attack that totaled a season-high 162 yards on the ground. Also caught one pass for 11 yards and contributed on special teams with two tackles.
• Led the team in receptions, catching all seven of his targets for 68 yards, while rushing four times for 15 yards and adding a tackle on special teams in the victory over L.A. Chargers (10/29). The seven receptions for 68 yards are both career highs.
• Appeared as a reserve in the win at Denver (11/12) and contributed with 10 rushing attempts for 36 yards and three receptions for 27 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown reception. Also contributed on special teams with the first blocked punt of his career that led to a Patriots field goal. It was the first blocked punt for the Patriots since 2014.
• Rushed 13 times for 50 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown as a Patriot on a 2-yard run in the first quarter, while also adding two catches for 3 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter of the win vs. Miami (11/26).
• Scored two touchdowns for the second straight week in the win at Buffalo (12/3), crossing the goal line with touchdown runs of 1 and 14 yards in the third quarter while also adding a career-long 31-yard run in the second quarter. Totaled 103 yards on offense with 78 yards on 12 carries and caught three passes for 25 yards. Also added one tackle on special teams and returned one kickoff for 17 yards.
• Started and scored a touchdown for the third straight game on a 3-yard run in the second quarter at Miami (12/11), finishing with five rushes for 8 yards and adding five catches for 45 yards.
• Scored in his fourth straight game on a 1-yard run in the first quarter and finished with four carries for 12 yards and added one catch for 5 yards before exiting the game due to injury in the victory at Pittsburgh (12/17).
• Returned after missing three games due to injury but saw limited snaps on offense, rushing once for 5 yards in the AFC Championship victory vs. Jacksonville (1/21).
• Appeared in a reserve role at running back and rushed three times for 18 yards, while also adding a career-long reception on a 46-yard screen pass in Super Bowl LII vs. Philadelphia (2/4).

2016 (16/1 - Cincinnati)

• Played in all 16 games with one start and accrued 74 rushing attempts for 344 yards (4.6 avg.) and two touchdowns. Also posted 17 receptions for 145 yards (8.5 avg.) and made 12 tackles on special teams.
• Made his first career regular-season start at running back in the regular-season finale vs. Baltimore (1/1) and had career highs with 27 rushing attempts for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

2015 (16/0, 1/0 - Cincinnati)

• Played in all 16 regular-season games as a reserve and registered four rushing attempts for 4 yards (1.0 avg.) and 10 receptions for 94 yards (9.4 avg.) and one touchdown. Also posted 11 special teams tackles.
• Appeared as a reserve in the Wild Card game vs. Pittsburgh (1/9) and rushed once for 4 yards, caught one pass for 5 yards and made one special teams tackle.
• Had one reception for a career-long 27 yards vs. Kansas City (10/4).
• Tallied one reception for 5 yards and his first career regular-season touchdown vs. Pittsburgh (12/13).

2014 (9/0, 1/1 - Cincinnati)

• Played in nine regular-season games as a reserve and registered nine rushing attempts for 27 yards (3.0 avg.) and a touchdown and seven receptions for 49 yards (7.0 avg.). Also made four special teams tackles.
• Was inactive for seven games.
• Made his first career start in the Wild Card playoff at Indianapolis (1/4) and had one rushing attempt for 23 yards and three receptions for 34 yards (11.3 avg.).
• Tallied three rushing attempts for 14 yards and his first career touchdown in the win at Cleveland (12/14).

2013 (1/0, 0/0 - Cincinnati)

• Played in one game as a rookie, seeing action on special teams at Baltimore (11/10). Did not accrue any statistics.
• Was inactive for 15 regular-season games and for the Wild Card Playoff vs. San Diego (1/5).

COLLEGE

• Played four seasons (2009-12) at Nebraska, with 44 games played and 22 starts, and amassed 3,329 career rushing yards and 30 touchdowns, including 14 games of 100 or more yards. Also scored five receiving touchdowns.
• Earned first-team All-Big 10 honors in 2011.
• Injury affected him for a number of games as a senior in 2012, but he recorded a 6.9-yard average on his 98 rushes and completed one of the most successful all-around careers in program history.

PERSONAL

• Attended Plano (Texas) High School, earning first-team Class 5A All-State Associated Press honors as a senior, when he rushed for 1,762 yards and 28 touchdowns and had 42 catches for 594 yards and five scores.
• Was named Ford Texas Class 5A Player of the Year in 2009 after rushing for 1,768 yards and 29 touchdowns as senior.
• Earned first-team all-district honors in basketball as a junior and senior and was part of the Class 5A state championship basketball team as a freshman.
• Earned repeated scholar-athlete awards throughout his career, including first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2011 and '12, and recognition as one of 15 National Football Foundation Scholar Athletes in '12.
• Graduated from Nebraska in three and a half years with a history degree.
• Serves as a board member for Team Jack Foundation, a charity that funds research for pediatric brain cancer.

EXTRA POINTS

• As a junior at the University of Nebraska, Rex formed a close bond with a 5-year old fan of his, Jack Hoffman, who had been diagnosed with brain cancer. During that 2011 season, Rex wore a wristband with the phrase "Team Jack," which helped bring pediatric brain cancer into the national spotlight. Burkhead hosted Hoffman for a lunch, provided a personal tour of Memorial Stadium and has since joined the board of directors of the "Team Jack Foundation," which has raised more than $4 million dollars to fight pediatric brain cancer since 2013. Rex recently hosted a fund raiser this past offseason at his high school alma mater that raised roughly $45,000. In 2013, Jack Hoffman's touchdown run during Nebraska's spring football scrimmage went viral and earned him an ESPY award.
• Burkhead is named after 1980s University of Kentucky basketball star Rex Chapman. Rex was born in Kentucky and his father had played in high school against Chapman, who went on to a 13-year career in the NBA.