Former Syracuse University quarterback Rex Culpepper died on Saturday, March 14 at age 28 after sustaining injuries in a dirt bike accident in Georgia, the Tampa Bay Times has confirmed.
Rex was the son of former NFL defensive tackle Brad Culpepper, who appeared on Survivor alongside his wife, Monica Culpepper. Rex played in 24 games during his career with the Orange, completing 139 career passes and throwing for 11 touchdowns.
In February 2026, Rex and his girlfriend, Savanna Morgan, announced via Instagram that they were engaged. Savanna took to Instagram on Monday to honor him.
“No one expects to meet the love of your life and lose them in only 6 short years after meeting,” she wrote. “Rex didn’t always believe in soulmates but towards the end he told me that he didn’t realize what having a soulmate felt like until we felt like extensions of each other.”
She continued, “And one thing about us is that we lived every single day like it was our last. We did every little thing that we set our minds to, between learning new skills and hobbies, and traveling to new places, there was never any free time with us and not a moment spent apart. I don’t regret a single day in our 6 years.”
Rex spent his collegiate career primarily as a backup, but his most memorable moment on the field came during the Orange’s 2018 spring game. A month after going public with his testicular cancer diagnosis, he suited up for the game while going through chemotherapy. He was not expected to be able to play, but came in for the final drive, leading his team down the field for a touchdown.
“It just felt surreal,” he said after the game, per Syracuse.com. “It was spectacular. I’ll never forget that.”
By that June, Rex was declared cancer-free.
Rex’s friend and former teammate Kielan Whitner also shared his thoughts, writing via Instagram on Sunday, March 15, “Rex, I’m going to miss you, brother. You were more than a friend to me. You were truly my brother, and someone I respected deeply. I am forever grateful for our friendship.”
He continued, “The only person I know who was literally good at everything! We lifted each other up, we argued, we kept each other in check, pushed each other to be better, and laughed more than anything. I’ll always appreciate you for that. Every fun or wild memory I have from life seems to have you in it. Some of the best moments of my life were the ones we shared together.”
Rex’s mother, Monica, first appeared on Survivor: One World in 2012. She returned to compete alongside Brad in Survivor: Blood vs. Water a year later. Brad returned in 2017 to play Survivor: Game Changers.
In addition to his parents, Rex leaves behind his brother, Judge, who played football at Penn State, and sister Honor, who played basketball at NYU.
