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Tylee Craft, a beloved member of the North Carolina Tar Heels, has passed away after a long cancer battle.
The team announced Craft’s passing shortly after the Tar Heels’ Week 7 matchup with Georgia Tech. Craft had been battling a rare form of lung cancer since 2022.
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. He was 1-of-1 and, while he won’t be with us in body, he’ll be watching over us with his… pic.twitter.com/UutVS5QSKk
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) October 12, 2024
Craft appeared in 7 games as a true freshman in 2020 and then appeared in 4 games during the 2021 season.
Unfortunately, Craft was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 2022. In 2022, Craft was honored as the Disney Spirit Award winner for his brave fight against the disease. The WR missed the 2022 and 2023 seasons while undergoing treatment.
The Tar Heels paid tribute to Craft before the game on Saturday, where head coach Mack Brown was seen embracing Craft’s mother.
Mack Brown embraced Tylee Craft’s mother throughout the 2-minute tribute to her son, then stepped back and waved his hands to lead a 13-second tribute to the Tar Heel who lost his life to cancer Saturday morning. Unspeakable grief today at Carolina. pic.twitter.com/liQRlRpvfM
— Lee Pace (@LeePaceTweet) October 12, 2024
Craft was scheduled to be honored at the Tar Heels’ Week 6 game, but had to be hospitalized and was unable to attend the game.
Brown addressed Craft’s passing in his meeting with reporters after UNC’s Week 7 contest against Georgia Tech:
Mack Brown announces that Tylee Craft has passed away after a two and a half year battle with cancer.
Today’s Cancer Awareness Game was dedicated to him. pic.twitter.com/y0jQMI5gGI
— Will Dalton (@thewilldalton) October 12, 2024
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
