The Syracuse football community is mourning former quarterback Rex Culpepper after his death at age 28 due to a dirt bike accident on Saturday
19:24 ET, 16 Mar 2026Updated 19:25 ET, 16 Mar 2026
Rex Culpepper runs out on the field for a game against Holy Cross
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Rex Culpepper passed away following a dirt bike accident
The Syracuse and college football communities are mourning former quarterback Rex Culpepper after his death at the age of 28. The former Orange QB and son of former NFL defensive lineman Brad Culpepper died following a dirt bike accident after previously surviving cancer.
Culpepper's dirt bike incident reportedly happened in Georgia on Saturday, March 14. Syracuse confirmed the news in a college football statement posted on social media. "Our Orange family mourns the loss of Rex Culpepper, who passed away this weekend at the age of 28," the program wrote.
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"Rex lived his life with endless passion, having overcome cancer at the age of 20 while playing for the Orange. Appearing in 30 games, Rex played football as fierce as he lived life. Our hearts are with the Culpepper family & all those who loved him."
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It comes after police confirmed details surrounding the tragic death of an NFL player found dead at 25.
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Culpepper’s story became widely known during his time at Syracuse after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2018 while still an active player on the team. The diagnosis came when he was just 20 years old.
Despite the setback, Culpepper returned to the field later that year and even threw a touchdown during Syracuse’s spring game while undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
He was declared cancer-free in June 2018 after about 100 hours of chemotherapy. "Cancer is in the rearview mirror. I'm 100 percent cured," Culpepper said. The moment doctors removed his IV line was one of the most emotional moments of his recovery.
Rex Culpepper drops back to pass in the second half during a game against Pittsburgh
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Rex Culpepper played his entire college football career at Syracuse
"When they took my PICC line out, it was magical," Culpepper said. "I was sitting in the seat, and I was just hugging my mom. We were both crying. We were both just so incredibly happy.
"Walking down the hallway and seeing all the nurses who had been with me for so many hours and gone through so much with me, seeing me finally walk out of there. I can't even put it into words. It felt like beating Clemson."
Culpepper played in 30 games during his Syracuse career, starting 16 of them at quarterback. Across those appearances, he threw for 1,546 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Rex Culpepper passes the ball against Boston College in 2017
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Rex Culpepper's father played in the NFL and appeared on the TV show Survivor
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He demonstrated a team-first mindset with the Orange, briefly switching to tight end in 2018 before returning to quarterback. After graduating from Syracuse, Culpepper left football to focus on academics.
He earned a master’s degree in 2021 and subsequently enrolled at Stetson University College of Law to pursue a career in law. Culpepper is survived by his parents, Brad and Monica, who are recognized for their appearances on the reality show Survivor.
He is also survived by his fiancee, Savanna Morgan, who announced his passing on social media after the couple had recently become engaged in February.