Tylee Craft, a 23-year-old wide receiver for North Carolina, passed away on Saturday morning after a long struggle with cancer, as announced by the university.
Originally from Sumter, South Carolina, Craft was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer on March 14, 2022. The UNC community supported him throughout his battle, rallying around the hashtag #TyleeStrong. Despite undergoing numerous treatments, the cancer advanced to other parts of his body and his brain. Nevertheless, Craft continued his education, enrolling in graduate courses for a master’s in applied professional studies, and graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science/sports administration.
During the football game against Georgia Tech on Saturday, which coincided with the school’s annual Cancer Awareness Game, UNC honored Craft. Friends and family members were acknowledged in an on-field ceremony while wearing shirts featuring Craft’s name and number. Broad receiver J.J. Jones paid tribute by donning Craft’s jersey with the number 13 in the game. The UNC men’s basketball team also showed support by wearing shirts with Craft’s name and number during their intrasquad scrimmage, observing a moment of silence in his memory.
UNC head coach Mack Brown expressed admiration for Craft’s resilience, stating that he fought valiantly for two and a half years. Brown noted that doctors had indicated Craft exceeded their expectations for survival. He remembered Craft as someone who attended every meeting and practice, consistently uplifting others around him.
Brown realized something was amiss after sharing a heartfelt embrace with Craft’s mother at the end of the first quarter, although he learned of Craft’s passing only after the game. He emphasized the need for the team to remain strong and support one another during this difficult time.
Craft’s journey with cancer began when he experienced severe back pain, leading UNC’s athletic trainers to take him for further testing in 2022. This resulted in his diagnosis of Stage 4 large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, after which he began aggressive chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments. Initially, his family was told that he had only weeks to live.
In 2022, Craft was honored with the Disney Spirit Award, recognizing him as one of college football’s most inspirational figures. He was also selected as one of five college athletes on the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team that same year.