April 26, 2024
"Growing up in Plano ISD helped me understand the importance of hard work, not only on the field, but in the classroom as well."
That belief still rings true today for former Plano Senior High alumnus and recently retired NFL Running Back Rex Burkhead, who was one of 40 athletes and celebrities that competed in the Invited Celebrity Classic on April 19-21, 2024 at the Las Colinas Country Club in Irving. The golf tournament raises money for local non-profit organizations.
Image of Rex Burkhead swinging golf club. (Photo courtesy of the Invited Celebrity Classic.)
Burkhead finished tied for 32nd, but was proud to help raise money for his charity, the Team Jack Foundation, which has raised more than $10 million for pediatric brain cancer research. The foundation's namesake, Jack Hoffman, was a pediatric cancer patient in Nebraska who met Burkhead while he was attending college at the University of Nebraska. Burkhead befriended Hoffman and even brought him on the field to run for a touchdown during the 2013 Nebraska Cornhusker Spring Football Game. This fall, Burkhead will represent the Team Jack Foundation during an event at Canyon Creek Country Club in Richardson.
Burkhead became known statewide as a star running back for Plano Senior High from 2006-2008, and led the team to a Class 5A Division 1 state semifinal appearance in 2027. During the 2007-08 season, Burkhead totaled 3,530 rushing yards and 57 touchdowns. He earned The Dallas Morning News' All-Area Offensive Player of the Year and listed him among the top 25 prospects in DFW and one of the top 30 recruits in Texas.
He also played for the Wildcat Varsity Basketball team and was on the state championship team in 2006. Burkhead earned all-district honors as a junior and senior after averaging 15 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists a game.
Image of Rex Burkhead. (Photo courtesy of the Invited Celebrity Classic.)
While at Nebraska from 2009-2012, Burkhead finished among the top five all-time rushers in Cornhusker history, totaling 3,329 rushing yards, 30 rushing touchdowns, and five receiving touchdowns.
Burkhead spent 10 seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots and Houston Texans, retiring earlier this year with 1,908 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns, 1,534 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns. He also appeared in two consecutive Super Bowls with the Patriots, including the 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams in 2019.
Burkhead credits his family and Plano ISD for instilling the values that have made him successful, and looks forward to giving back to his community. His mother, Robyn, is a teacher at Plano ISD's Jackson Elementary School and was the school's Teacher of the Year in 2020.
On his time in Plano ISD, Burkhead states, "I learned the importance of community and what it means to serve others. I could not have asked for better coaches, teachers and mentors than I had in Plano ISD."
