North Carolina wide receiver Tylee Craft died Saturday morning after a long battle with cancer, the school announced.
Craft, 23, of Sumter, South Carolina, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer on March 14, 2022. The UNC community had rallied behind him since his diagnosis with the hashtag #TyleeStrong. He had undergone numerous treatments, but the cancer had spread throughout his body and brain. Still, he enrolled in advanced courses toward a master's degree in applied professional studies and graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in exercise science/sports administration.
Editor's Tips
North Carolina honored Craft during Saturday's football game against Georgia Tech. It was also the team's annual cancer awareness game. Friends and family members wearing T-shirts with Craft's name and number were honored during an on-field ceremony.
Wide receiver JJ Jones wore Craft's jersey with his number 13 and last name during the game. In addition, the North Carolina men's basketball team wore t-shirts with Craft's name and number at their intrasquad scrimmage at the Smith Center after the football game and observed a moment of silence in Craft's honor before the scrimmage.
“This young man fought so hard in his two and a half years,” North Carolina football coach Mack Brown said. “The doctors told us he survived, which he should have. And he did it with the spirit, he did it with a smile on his face, he didn't miss a meeting, he didn't miss training, he trained the other incredible young people.”
Brown told reporters he didn't learn of Craft's death until after the game, but he sensed something had happened after witnessing an emotional hug with Craft's mother at the end of the first quarter.
“I think the family feels the love and they will continue to feel that love,” Brown said. “What we need to do is be strong and pray for strength for ourselves as leaders to help these guys on and off the field. … That’s why I need to advocate for them more than ever and be stronger and make sure I can help them get through things and move forward in their lives.”
Tylee Craft, shown here in 2022 with UNC coach Mack Brown, graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in exercise and exercise science/sport administration. Courtesy of UNC Athletics
Craft had been dealing with debilitating back pain, prompting North Carolina's athletic training team to take him to the hospital in 2022 for further testing to determine the cause. At that time, he was diagnosed with stage 4 large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. He immediately began aggressive chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
According to North Carolina, when Craft was diagnosed, his family members said doctors told them he was just weeks away from death.
In 2022, Craft was honored with the Disney Spirit Award, given annually to college football's most inspiring person or team. He was also one of five college athletes named to the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team this year.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
