Former Syracuse University quarterback Rex Culpepper, who who overcame cancer during his college career and "played football as fierce as he lived life," has died, the school said on Monday. He was 28.
His cause of death was not announced.
He overcame testicular cancer during his career at the ACC school and still managed to get into 30 games between 2017 and 2020. Culpepper completed 139 of 266 passes for 1,028 yards and 9 touchdowns
"Our Orange family mourns the loss of Rex Culpepper, who passed away this weekend at the age of 28," according to a school statement.
"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."
Culpepper's fiancée, Savanna Morgan, said his death will leave a "Rex shaped hole inside of me" that will never be filled.
"I will never take for granted how cool Rex was and how cool he eventually made me too," she wrote in a loving Instagram tribute. "I will carry on his hobbies forever."
The Tampa native was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and underwent 100 hours of chemotherapy, the school said.
His father, Brad Culpepper, was a defensive tackle at the University of Florida from 1988-91 and helped the Gators win their first SEC title in his senior season. The elder Culpepper played nine seasons in the NFL, which included stints with the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears.
The QB's brother, Judge Culpepper, played defensive tackle at Penn State and Toledo before signing as an undrafted free agent with Tampa Bay.
