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In 2018, Rex Burkhead, a former running back for the New England Patriots, scored a 2-yard diving touchdown in overtime during the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, leading to the Patriots' victory. An 11-year-old girl named Taylor, who considers herself Burkhead's biggest fan, was in attendance at the game. Burkhead played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013, playing for them for four seasons before joining the Patriots. He retired from the NFL in 2024.
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What You'll Learn
Who is Rex Burkhead?
Rex Burkhead, born on July 2, 1990, in Winchester, Kentucky, is an American former professional football player who played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played high school football for the Wildcats at Plano Senior High School in Plano, Texas, and was part of the varsity team for all four years of his high school career.
Burkhead played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the University of Nebraska. In 2009, as a freshman, he played in nine games, rushing for 346 yards on 81 carries with three touchdowns. In 2011, he became the starting running back and had a school-record 38 carries against the Iowa Hawkeyes. He finished his college career among the top five all-time rushers in Nebraska history. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in history in December 2012, completing his undergraduate work in three and a half years.
In the 2013 NFL draft, Burkhead was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round, with the 190th overall pick. He played for the Bengals for four seasons before signing with the New England Patriots in 2017. With the Patriots, Burkhead appeared in consecutive Super Bowls and won Super Bowl LIII. He then signed with the Houston Texans in 2021 and played for them for two seasons. After spending the 2023 NFL season as an unsigned free agent, Burkhead retired from professional football during the 2024 offseason.
Throughout his career, Burkhead was recognised for his community service and academic achievements. He won the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion award in 2012 for his work with a child cancer patient, Jack Hoffman, and was a three-time member of the Brook Berringer Citizenship Team. He also earned repeated scholar-athlete awards, including first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American honours in 2011 and 2012.
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What is the AFC Championship Game?
The AFC Championship Game is the annual championship game of the American Football Conference (AFC). It is one of the two semifinal playoff games of the National Football League (NFL), the largest professional American football league in the world. The game is played on the last Sunday in January by the two remaining playoff teams, following the AFC postseason's first two rounds. The AFC champion then advances to face the winner of the NFC Championship Game in the Super Bowl. The game was established as part of the 1970 merger between the NFL and the American Football League (AFL).
Since 1984, the winner of the AFC Championship Game has received the Lamar Hunt Trophy, named after the founder of the AFL and longtime owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, Lamar Hunt. The original design consisted of a wooden base with a sculpted AFC logo in the front and a sculpture of various football players in the back, with a raised silver frieze. The trophy was redesigned in 2010 to more closely resemble the Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Super Bowl.
The Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the only two AFC teams to appear in at least one AFC Championship game in every decade since 1970. The Steelers have the most appearances with 16, followed by the Patriots with 15. The Broncos have the best record in the contest since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, with an 8-2 record. Tom Brady led the Patriots to eight straight AFC title games from 2011 to 2018, while Patrick Mahomes has played in seven consecutive AFC championships.
The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 AFC Championship Game. The Houston Texans are the only current AFC team to have never made an appearance in the game.
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Who was the girl behind Burkhead?
The girl behind Burkhead was Taylor Schommer, an 11-year-old who considers herself Rex Burkhead's biggest fan. She has been following the running back's career since his college days. Taylor's mother, Jacquee Schommer, shared a video on Twitter of her surprising her daughter with tickets to the AFC Championship Game between the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. The video caught Burkhead's attention, who tweeted his thanks to Taylor for her support.
Taylor Schommer's passion for the New England Patriots and Rex Burkhead is evident from a young age. Her dedication to the team and player is heartwarming, and it is no surprise that her mother wanted to capture this special moment on camera. The surprise of receiving tickets to see her favourite team and player must have been an incredible experience for Taylor.
Jacquee Schommer's creativity in presenting the tickets as a surprise is also noteworthy. She pretended that the box contained a new pair of softball shoes for her daughter, only for Taylor to discover the coveted tickets inside. This thoughtful gesture clearly demonstrates Jacquee's understanding of her daughter's interests and her desire to create a memorable moment for her.
The story of Taylor Schommer and her devotion to Rex Burkhead and the New England Patriots adds a personal touch to the excitement of the AFC Championship Game. It showcases the impact that athletes and sports teams can have on their fans and how these shared passions can create lasting memories for young enthusiasts like Taylor.
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What team was Burkhead playing for?
Rex Burkhead, born on July 2, 1990, is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft, signing with the team on May 13, 2013.
Burkhead played in all four preseason games, making his NFL debut on November 10, 2013, playing on special teams in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He played in nine games for the Bengals in 2014, mainly on special teams, and had his first career touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. In 2015, Burkhead played in all 16 regular-season games for the Bengals, seeing action primarily on special teams. In 2016, he appeared in all 16 regular-season games again, including one start at running back, and rushed for 344 yards and two touchdowns.
On March 14, 2017, Burkhead signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots worth up to $3.15 million. He made his debut for the Patriots on September 7, 2017, and appeared in consecutive Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl LIII. During his time with the Patriots, he recorded notable achievements, such as becoming the first player to catch a touchdown pass and block a punt in the same NFL game since 1977.
After four seasons with the Patriots, Burkhead signed with the Houston Texans in 2021 and spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with them. He announced his retirement from professional football during the 2024 offseason after spending the 2023 NFL season as an unsigned free agent.
Therefore, throughout his career, Burkhead played for multiple teams, including the Cincinnati Bengals, the New England Patriots, and the Houston Texans.
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What happened after the game?
The New England Patriots defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2018 AFC Championship Game, paving the way for their victory in Super Bowl LIII. Rex Burkhead, the Patriots running back, played a pivotal role in this victory by scoring a 2-yard diving touchdown in overtime, securing the win against the Chiefs.
Following this triumph, Burkhead continued his career with the Patriots, where he faced various injuries and competed for playing time with other running backs. Despite these challenges, he remained a valuable asset to the team due to his versatility and ability to perform well in diverse situations. Burkhead's efficiency in the 2019 season stood out, as he achieved his highest rushing yards per carry since 2016 and set a career-high in receiving yards.
In 2021, Burkhead signed with the Houston Texans, marking his third team in nine seasons in the NFL. He spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Texans, contributing to their offensive strategies. However, Burkhead faced competition from other running backs on the team, and his role may have been evolving towards special teams contributions.
After spending the 2023 NFL season as an unsigned free agent, Rex Burkhead announced his retirement from professional football during the 2024 offseason. Burkhead's decision was shared on social media, expressing his gratitude for being able to play the game for 26 years. He concluded his career with a notable legacy, including appearances in consecutive Super Bowls and a victory in Super Bowl LIII with the New England Patriots.
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