Tylee Craft, a wide receiver at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, passed away on Saturday after battling a rare form of lung cancer diagnosed in 2022. The UNC football program announced his passing on October 12.
In a heartfelt message on their official account, the program stated, “It is with love and fond memories that we announce Tylee Craft has begun his journey on the other side.” They emphasized the impact he had on many lives, stating, “Tylee meant so much to so many and affected us in ways we’ll always be thankful for.” The statement also expressed gratitude for the support Craft received during his fight against cancer.
After the game against Georgia Tech, head coach Mack Brown spoke to reporters about the news, noting, “What a difficult thing to tell a group of young people about one of their best friends.”
Craft, a graduate of Sumter High School in South Carolina, played several games as a wide receiver for UNC during his freshman and sophomore years. He announced his cancer diagnosis in March 2022, revealing he had Stage 4 lung cancer after suffering from severe back pain.
Due to his condition, Craft missed his last two seasons and declared a “medical retirement” in July. However, he remained involved with the football program as a student coach. Following UNC’s game against Pittsburgh on October 5, Coach Brown shared that Craft had been hospitalized and was struggling, requesting thoughts and prayers for him.
The game against Georgia Tech on Saturday was dedicated to Craft, and his family was honored on the field during the first quarter. Craft’s mother, September, shared an emotional moment with Coach Brown, who wore a shirt displaying Craft’s No. 13. The crowd participated in a tribute by applauding for 13 seconds in his honor. Additionally, teammate J.J. Jones wore a jersey bearing Craft’s number during the game.