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UNC WR Tylee Craft dies at age 23 after a two-year battle with cancer

UNC WR Tylee Craft dies at age 23 after a two-year battle with cancer
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FILE - North Carolina wide receiver Tylee Craft (13) goes to the bench during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota on Sept. 16, 2023, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay, File)

Tylee Craft remained active in UNC football after being diagnosed with a rare form of Stage 4 lung cancer. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay, File)

North Carolina wide receiver Tylee Craft died Saturday after a long battle with cancer, the school announced. He was 23 years old.

According to his GoFundMe, Craft was diagnosed with stage 4 large cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma, a rare form of cancer, on March 22, 2022. According to ESPN, the cancer was discovered when UNC training staff took him to the hospital because he was struggling with debilitating back pain, which led to aggressive treatment with chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Unfortunately, the cancer eventually spread to his liver, brain and spine. The condition forced him to retire for medical reasons, but he remained active as a coach in the Tar Heels program.

UNC statement announcing Craft's death:

With love and fond memories, we announce that Tylee Craft has begun his journey on the other side.

Tylee meant so much to so many and influenced us in ways for which we will always be grateful. He was a loner and even though he won't be with us physically, he will watch over us with his endearing smile and endless positivity.

On behalf of his family and our program, we sincerely thank everyone who supported Tylee in his fight against cancer. It means more than you know.

With love and affection, #TyleeStrongForever 🩵

Craft, a Sumter, South Carolina native, joined the UNC program as a two-star recruit in the 2020 class. He appeared in a total of 11 games as a freshman and sophomore.

UNC head coach Mack Brown told reporters after Saturday's game, which he lost 42-34, that his team informed players at practice Thursday that Craft had been admitted to hospice care and had only a few days to live have. He praised the strength Craft showed in his fight, which reportedly lasted much longer than his doctors expected:

“This young man fought so hard in his two and a half years. The doctors told us that he survived what he should have done and he did it with the spirit and he did it with a smile on his face and he didn't miss a meeting, he didn't miss a training session, he trained these other young people. He's just an incredible young person.

Brown wiped away tears at the end of the first quarter after giving Craft's mother a long hug.

UNC considered Saturday its cancer awareness game, with players and coaches wearing T-shirts that read “Tylee Strong” during the team's bell tower walk. The UNC basketball team also wore the jerseys before their scrimmage on Saturday.

Wide receiver JJ Jones wore Craft's No. 13 jersey during the Georgia Tech game and caught three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. Jones gave another tribute after the game, as did wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway and athletic director Bubba Cunningham.

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