The North Carolina football team has had a tough season — and on the field — it wasn’t much better on Saturday as the Tar Heels fell 41-34 to Georgia Tech, giving them a (3-4) record on the season.
But when the team got to the locker room after the tough conference loss, the team got hit with far more devastating news.
UNC football announced on Saturday that former wide receiver and student coach Tylee Craft passed away.
Craft was recently hospitalized as his condition with Stage 4 lung cancer got worse and passed away Saturday morning. He was just 23.
“It is with love and fond memories that we announce Tylee Craft has begun his journey on the other side. Tylee meant so much to so many and affected us in ways we’ll always be thankful for,” an official statement from North Carolina football read.
“He was 1-of-1 and, while he won’t be with us in body, he’ll be watching over us with his endearing smile and endless positivity. On behalf of his family and our program, we sincerely thank everyone who supported Tylee during his battle with cancer. It means more than you know.”
Tylee Craft Was Diagnosed With Cancer In 2022 And Stopped Playing For North Carolina Football, But Helped As A Coach
Tylee first noticed something was wrong during spring workouts. He experienced back spasms and tightness, initially attributing them to the workouts. After scans, Tylee was diagnosed on March 14, 2022, with stage four large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, a rare form of lung cancer. From that moment, his life changed drastically—he stopped playing football and taking classes to focus on treatment
Craft, from Sumter, South Carolina, played in seven games at receiver and on special teams as a true freshman in 2020, and four games in 2021 before his diagnosis. Still, he had remained present and close to the program.
“Tylee meant so much to so many and affected us in ways we’ll always be thankful for,” the North Carolina football program’s statement said.
Ironically the Tar Heels celebrated Craft during Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech, as it was the program’s cancer awareness game. Friends and family members wearing shirts bearing Craft’s name and number were recognized during an on-field ceremony.
Wide receiver J.J. Jones wore Craft’s jersey with his No. 13 and last name as UNC football suited up against the Yellow Jackets.
North Carolina football coach Mack Brown told reporters he didn’t learn of Craft’s death until after the game but sensed something had happened after sharing an emotional hug with Craft’s mother at the end of the first quarter.
“This young man fought so hard for his two and a half years,” Brown said. “The doctors told us he outlived what he should’ve. 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 practice, he coached these other incredible young people.”