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Rex Culpepper, a former Syracuse Orange quarterback, died last weekend from injuries suffered in a dirt bike accident in Georgia. He was 28 years old.
“Our Orange family mourns the loss of Rex Culpepper, who passed away this weekend at the age of 28,” the Syracuse football program said in a statement on X. “Rex lived his life with endless passion, after overcoming cancer at the age of 20 while playing for the Orange.
“Appearing in 30 games, Rex played football as hard as he lived his life. Our hearts go out to the Culpepper family and all those who loved him.”
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Rex Culpepper of the Syracuse Orange runs out for the game against the Holy Cross Crusaders at the Carrier Dome on September 28, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse beats Holy Cross 41-3. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
Culpepper’s fiancée, Savanna Morgan, confirmed his death in an emotional and heartbreaking Instagram post with photos and videos of them together.
Culpepper had just proposed to Morgan less than a month ago.
“No one expects to meet the love of their life and then lose them just six years after meeting,” Morgan captioned her post. “Rex didn’t always believe in soulmates, but towards the end he told me he didn’t realize what it meant to have a soulmate until we felt like extensions of each other.
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“And one thing about us is that we lived every day like it was our last. We did everything we put our minds to, between learning new skills and hobbies, and traveling to new places, there was never a free time with us or a moment spent apart. I don’t regret a single day in 6 years.
Rex Culpepper of the Syracuse Orange warms up before the game against the Holy Cross Crusaders at the Carrier Dome on September 28, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
“You made six years a lifetime, Rexy.”
Culpepper primarily played as the Orange’s backup quarterback during his time with the program from 2017 to 2020. He eventually appeared in games as a tight end.
During his treatment, Culpepper became a name on the Orange football team, as he appeared in the 2018 spring game, throwing a touchdown on the final drive in front of a roaring crowd and on the sidelines with his teammates and coaches applauding his efforts.
He played 30 career games, including 16 at quarterback where he totaled 1,546 yards with 11 touchdowns.
As Syracuse mentioned in its article, Culpepper battled cancer while in the program after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in March 2018. He underwent extensive chemotherapy to treat his illness and was declared cancer-free in June of that year.
Syracuse Orange quarterback Rex Culpepper talks to his teammates on the sidelines during the college football game between the Syracuse Orange and the Pittsburgh Panthers on September 19, 2020 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)
Culpepper is also the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaners defensive tackle Brad Culpepper, who also was a starter with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears during his NFL career.
