There have been a multitude of Bengals running backs that have left the Cincinnati Bengals in the past few decades and found post season success with future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. The most famous example was the infamous Corey Dillon who quit on Cincinnati during a game during the 2004 season. After the final game of the season Dillon ceremoniously threw his pads into the stands and would never play another down for the team in his career. While he had a rough exit from the team, there have been other players who will be remembered fondly in the queen city.
Four-Year Bengals Running Back Retires after 10 Seasons in the NFL
On Monday afternoon, the 2013 sixth round draft pick by Cincinnati Rex Burkhead announced that he would be retiring from the NFL. Burkhead played for four seasons with Cincinnati and was part of the elite trifecta of running backs in Cincinnati during the 2015 season that included Burkhead as the receiving back, Jeremy Hill as the power back and Giovani Bernard as the scat back.
Burkhead made the announcement in a post on his social media accounts.
“I’ve been blessed to be able to play the game of football for 26 years and looking back there are many people I would like to thank,” Burkhead wrote. He went on to acknowledge his parents; his wife, Danielle; his two children; his coaches; ownership and support staff; his teammates; and fans.
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Burkhead played his college ball at the University of Nebraska and was selected late in the 2013 NFL Draft by Cincinnati in the hopes of turning him into the team’s version of New England Patriots playoff hero James White. After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, White would be a picture-perfect backup for the team as he was willing and able to either run, receive or block out of either the running back or slot receiver positions.
After leaving Cincinnati in 2017, Burkhead went on the spend four seasons with the New England Patriots where he was a key player in the 2019 Super Bowl LII win over the Los Angeles Rams. While he struggled to see the field in Cincinnati, Burkhead was a solid check down option for Brady in the northeast. After his stint with the Patriots, Burkhead spent the final two seasons of his career on the Houston Texans. He had his best producing season in 2021 with Houston at 427 rushing yards.
Burkhead will finish his career with 1,908 rushing yards and 1,534 receiving yards as he was a solid utility option in the NFL for his entire 10 year career. I wish Burkhead and his family a happy retirements after a fairly long NFL career for a running back.
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