The college football world is remembering Rex Culpepper, the former Syracuse football player and son of Survivor runners-up Brad and Monica Culpepper.
Rex died on March 14, 2026 at age 28, his family and friends have confirmed. The former quarterback memorably beat cancer during his time with the Orange, returning to the field just months after going public with his diagnosis. After graduation, he went on to become a lawyer and got engaged to his fiancée, Savanna, in February 2026.
“Our Orange family mourns the loss of Rex Culpepper, who passed away this weekend at the age of 28,” read a statement from Syracuse football, posted via X. “Rex lived his life with endless passion, having overcome cancer at the age of 20 while playing for the Orange.”
Rex is survived by a family with deep roots in athletics, from his grandfather to both of his siblings. Keep scrolling for Rex Culpepper’s full family guide.
Rex’s father, Brad, was a consensus All-American at the University of Florida, where he played football from 1988 to 1991. The Minnesota Vikings took him in the 10th round of the 1991 NFL Draft, kicking off a nine-year pro career at defensive tackle.
When his playing days ended, Brad joined his wife on Survivor: Blood vs. Water, the show’s 27th season, in 2013. Though he was voted out early, he returned for Survivor: Game Changers in 2017, where he was the runner-up.
Monica CulpepperBest known as a memorable Survivor player, Monica made an early impact on Survivor: One World in 2011, earning a spot back alongside her husband two years later despite being voted out fifth. Like Brad, she made the most of her second chance, finishing second on Survivor: Blood vs. Water.
Brad’s father and Rex’s grandfather, Bruce, also played football at Florida and was Gators captain from 1960 to 1962. In his senior season, he led Florida to an upset win in the Gator Bowl over No. 9 Penn State.
Savanna Morgan
Rex and Savanna announced their engagement in a joint Instagram post on February 21, 2026, less than a month before his death.
“So…what are we???” they wrote in the caption alongside photos from the proposal.
When news of Rex’s death broke, Savanna took to Instagram again to post more photos of him and share her thoughts.
“No one expects to meet the love of your life and lose them in only 6 short years after meeting,” she wrote in the caption. “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.”
Savanna 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.”
Judge, Rex’s younger brother, started his college career at Penn State in 2018 before transferring to Toledo, where he played from 2021 to 2023. The first-team all-MAC defensive tackle signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent, but he ultimately did not make the team.
While her brothers played football, Honor made her name on the basketball court, suiting up for Division III juggernaut NYU. Rex’s younger sister was a member of the Violets’ undefeated 2023-24 national championship team, and NYU has not lost a game since.
“Oh, our Rex, our biggest brother,” she wrote via Instagram in a tribute of her own after Rex’s death. “You were the center of all Universes. I don’t have the words right now, and I’m not sure I will. But for now, if you knew Rex, even briefly, please comment a memory, so we can read and laugh and cry.”
The comments were quickly filled with stories from her and Rex’s friends and former teammates.
