The Chapel Hill community and the college football fraternity is going through unimaginable grief after North Carolina football player Tylee Craft died Saturday morning from a rare form of lung cancer, coach Mack Brown said.
Brown made the heartbreaking announcement during his postgame news conference following the Tar Heels’ 41-34 loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Craft was 23.
“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.”
UNC honored Craft, who was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in March 2022, during Saturday’s football game, which ironically also happened to be the team’s annual Cancer Awareness Game. Friends and family members donning shirts bearing Craft’s name and number were acknowledged during an on-field ceremony.
Wide receiver J.J. Jones remembered his teammate and wore Craft’s jersey with his No. 13 and last name against the Yellow Jackets.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrown told reporters he did not learn of Craft’s passing until after the game but had a sinking feeling that something had happened after sharing a tearful embrace with Craft’s mother at the end of the first quarter.
“I think the family feels the love and they’ll continue to feel the love,” Brown said. “What we’ve got to do is be strong, and pray for strength for us as leaders, to help these guys on the field and off the field. … So more than ever before I have got to step up and be stronger for them and make sure that I can help them manage the stuff and move forward in their lives.”
UNC football also took to their social media platform and announced Craft’s death in a statement, followed later by a tribute montage to Craft’s memory. Additionally, the UNC men’s basketball team wore shirts bearing Craft’s name and number for its intrasquad scrimmage at the Smith Center following the football game, and took part in a pre-scrimmage moment of silence in Craft’s honor.
Craft, from Sumter, South Carolina, was a highly decorated four-star recruit coming out of high school. He played in seven games at receiver and on special teams as a true freshman in 2020, and four games in 2021, including the ’21 Orange Bowl against Texas A&M. before his diagnosis. Even with his devasting diagnosis, 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 football program’s statement said. “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.”
He was awarded the prestigious Disney’s Wide World of Sports Spirit Award in 2022 for the courage he displayed during his battle, and served as a student coach inspiration for the Tar Heels in recent seasons.
